According to the Ministry of Education and Training (2018), Vietnam’s general education curriculum adopts multiple textbooks across subjects to support innovative teaching. These textbooks, developed by academic experts, align with the national framework and enhance classroom flexibility. However, research on integrating sustainable development education into Vietnam's textbooks and curriculum remains scarce, highlighting a critical gap in educational studies. This study examines the representation of sustainable development topics in four new English textbooks for grade 11 used in Vietnam. Employing a quantitative approach, the research utilises a content analysis method guided by the Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) principles framework, developed by Mohammadnia and Moghadam (2019), which is based on the Earth Charter (2000) and the UNESCO Roadmap for Implementing the Global Action Program on ESD (2014). The analysis involves systematically evaluating the textbook content to identify and interpret themes related to sustainable development according to these established ESD principles. The findings showed that four textbooks exhibit the highest level of emphasis across 14 sustainable education topics covered. The main topic of "English 11_Global Success" is pollution. "English 11_c21" strongly emphasises harmonious living and group problem-solving. While "English 11_Bright" concentrates on technology, "English 11_Explore New World" is more concerned with biodiversity. Three themes—natural disasters, poverty, and renewable energy resources—are given the least attention in all four textbooks. These findings offer valuable insights for educators, enabling them to select teaching resources that enhance students' awareness of sustainable development challenges and contribute to global discussions on embedding sustainability in educational curricula.

Authors:
Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, Hanoi University, Vietnam
Hien Ta Thi Thanh, Hanoi University, Vietnam
Nhung Vu Thi Tuyet, Hanoi University, Vietnam
Le Thu Huong, Hanoi University, Vietnam

About the Presenter(s)
Nguyen Thi Thu Ha is a lecturer in English for the Specific Purposes Department at Hanoi University. She obtained a PhD degree in Linguistics. Her research focuses on linguistics and ESL language teaching.

Ta Thi Thanh Hien, a lecturer at Hanoi University, teaches English skills and ESP, develops curricula and tests, and conducts research. With 18 years’ experience and several publications, she is known for her dedication and professional excellence.
https://www.facebook.com/TTHEnglish

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