Popular digital literacy: Inheriting from history

The goal is to popularize digital knowledge and skills to all classes of people, so that no one is left behind.

Rapidly deploy digital literacy for all

Prof. Dr. Pham Tat Dong - former Vice President of the Vietnam Association for Promoting Education, who has done in-depth research on the Popular Education Movement, said: After the victory of the August Revolution in 1945, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam was born. At the first meeting of the Provisional Government on September 3, 1945, President Ho Chi Minh was concerned that more than 90% of the people were illiterate... An ignorant nation is a weak nation. Therefore, he proposed launching a campaign to combat illiteracy.

Following Uncle Ho's instructions, on September 8, 1945, the Government issued a decree to establish the Popular Education Department. The movement quickly spread, penetrating into every hamlet and village. After only one year, the whole country had 75,000 classes with 95,000 teachers participating, helping more than 2.5 million people learn to read and write. This was a special feat in the history of socialized learning of the nation.

Continuing that tradition, Prof. Dr. Pham Tat Dong emphasized that in the context of the fourth industrial revolution and the national digital transformation process, the "Digital Literacy for All" movement aims to popularize digital skills, helping people access, use and master technology. Thereby building a modern learning society, leaving no one behind.

To understand the importance of the “Digital Literacy Movement” with the mission of popularizing digital skills and bringing technology to the masses, Mr. Nguyen Nhat Quang - member of the VINASA Founding Council, Director of the VINASA Institute of Science and Technology, said that we aim to “stand shoulder to shoulder with the world powers”, so the intelligence and common capacity of the entire population must be different from the past.

If people do not adapt to the digital environment and are not equipped with appropriate digital capabilities, they will be left behind - this is not in line with our development path. Therefore, we must urgently implement Digital Literacy for All. To do so, digital transformation must be people-centered, and at the same time, people must be identified as the main subjects carrying out the digital transformation revolution.

“Therefore, popularizing knowledge, skills, attitudes and awareness for the whole population about digital technology in general, artificial intelligence technology and other technologies is extremely urgent and important,” Mr. Nguyen Nhat Quang emphasized.

Students participating in the "HNUE - Robot Creation 2025" Contest organized by Hanoi National University of Education.

Bridge the past and the future

Sharing the same view, Mr. To Hong Nam - Deputy Director of the Department of Science, Technology and Information (Ministry of Education and Training) said that when transforming digitally, taking people as the center and implementing digital government, digital economy, digital society, digital citizens are the decisive factor. In the digital space, if people do not have digital skills, they cannot work, work, or even entertain. No matter how well-designed and user-friendly a system is, if people do not know how to use it or do not use all its functions, it is truly a waste.

“Therefore, it is necessary for every citizen to have digital capacity, especially in the current period, when we implement Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo on breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation and national digital transformation,” said Mr. To Hong Nam.

Responding to the “Digital Literacy for All” Movement, Associate Professor Dr. Huynh Quyet Thang - Director of Hanoi University of Science and Technology, committed to mobilizing all resources to effectively implement the movement. Accordingly, Hanoi University of Science and Technology focuses on 3 key solutions: First, the school plays a pioneering role in improving digital skills for lecturers and students, contributing to the nationwide digital literacy campaign.

Second, Hanoi University of Science and Technology is determined to become a digital university, promoting comprehensive digital transformation. The school will complete the eHUST platform, research, train and strongly apply digital technology and artificial intelligence, thereby promoting digital education and developing high-quality human resources for the country. Third, the school will develop centers of excellence in strategic technology, contributing to the ecosystem of science, innovation and digital transformation.

Associate Professor, Dr. Huynh Quyet Thang acknowledged that the “Digital Literacy for All” Movement not only has educational significance, but also plays an important role in socio-economic development. When each citizen masters technology, society will progress faster on the path of modernization. With the active participation of educational institutions, businesses and people, this movement promises to contribute to making Vietnam an advanced digital nation, firmly stepping into the digital era.

At the launching ceremony of the movement and the launch of the "Digital Education for All" platform, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh acknowledged that the "Digital Education for All" movement has important and deeply humane significance for the country's development, demonstrating the determination of the Party and State in the cause of developing a digital nation, digital government, digital economy, digital society, digital citizens, and developing rapidly, comprehensively and sustainably.

The Prime Minister recalled that 80 years ago, the “Popular Education” movement was born with the urgent goal of eliminating illiteracy and improving the cultural level of the people. Now, the “Popular Education Digital” movement is inspired, inherited and promoted from this movement.

As General Secretary To Lam said, the “Digital Literacy for All” Movement is not only an educational initiative, but also a bridge between the past and the future. By promoting historical lessons, we strive to build a society that is not only rich in knowledge, but also rich in technological strength, ready to integrate and develop.

To spread the “Digital Literacy for All” Movement, the Prime Minister said that not only policies and support from the Government and social organizations are needed, but more importantly, the people are the main subjects, needing to proactively learn, be willing to share and apply digital knowledge, and together build a progressive society in the new era. The country is facing a historic opportunity to enter a new era, developing strongly with the main driving force coming from science, technology, innovation and digital transformation.

“We must carry out a particularly important and urgent task, which is to popularize knowledge and technology about digital transformation and digital skills for all people, that is, to “eliminate illiteracy” about digital transformation,” the Prime Minister stated.

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/binh-dan-hoc-vu-so-ke-thua-tu-lich-su-post744683.html