Many artifacts about the war to eradicate 'illiteracy' are published for the first time

The exhibition at the National History Museum helps the public, especially the young generation, understand more deeply the "Popular Education" movement 80 years ago and the current "Popular Education Digital".

“I hope that your enthusiasm and efforts will have a glorious result: All of our people will be able to read and write. That honor is something that no bronze statue or stone stele can equal.”

Those are the simple and concise words of advice from Uncle Ho in the letter sent to the teaching staff of "Popular Education," which will be introduced in the thematic exhibition "Popular Education - Lighting up the Future."

The exhibition opened on August 22 at the National Museum of History ( Hanoi ) providing a panoramic view of the "Popular Education" movement 80 years ago.

Letter of President Ho Chi Minh to teachers of the Popular Education Service, May 1, 1946. (Source: BTLSQG)

According to information from the Museum, after gaining power, the young Democratic Republic of Vietnam had to face countless difficulties and challenges, of which the three major "enemies" were hunger, ignorance and foreign invaders, putting the fate of the nation in an extremely difficult situation.

Right in the first meeting of the Provisional Government on September 3, 1945, President Ho Chi Minh identified "an ignorant nation is a weak nation," while in our country at that time, more than 90% of the population was illiterate, so eliminating illiteracy was one of the six urgent tasks of the country.

On September 8, 1945, the Provisional Government issued Decree No. 17/SL on the establishment of the Popular Education Department, initiating an unprecedented learning movement in history. Millions of people across the country, regardless of age or social class, participated in learning to read and write as a sacred act of patriotism. The Popular Education Movement became a torch of knowledge, fostering the spirit of independence and the desire for enlightenment for the entire nation.

With nearly 160 images, documents, and artifacts, the exhibition is divided into 3 parts: Eradicating illiteracy - a war without gunfire, Spreading the light of knowledge, From popular education to lifelong learning.

Cultural remedial classes for workers in factories in Hanoi after peace was restored, 1954.

In particular, in this exhibition, most of the precious and valuable documents and artifacts are introduced to the public for the first time, such as: The notebook recording the impressions of leaders and intellectuals on the work of Popular Education; Popular Education badges drawn and printed by revolutionary soldiers imprisoned in Con Dao to promote Popular Education in prison, in 1951; a group of artifacts donated by families of witnesses and creative products of students of Lab EDABK of the School of Electricity and Electronics, Hanoi University of Science and Technology...

The exhibition helps the public, especially the younger generation, understand more deeply the "Popular Education" movement 80 years ago and the current "Popular Education Digital" as particularly important historical moments; it is the journey of inheriting and developing Ho Chi Minh's ideology on "learning to work, to be a human, learning to serve the class and the people, the Fatherland and humanity."

From there, it arouses the spirit of studiousness, the desire to learn and the enduring belief in the power of knowledge - from the first letters of the past to the flame of learning that is continuing today.

The exhibition will be open from August 22 to December 2025 at the National Museum of History, 25 Tong Dan, Hanoi./.

Some typical artifacts:

A Popular Education class in Hai Duong during the resistance war against French colonialism (1946-1954). (Source: BTLSQG)

Certificate of Illiteracy Payment.

Embroidery of Gia Vien People's Area, Hai Phong City respectfully presented to President Ho Chi Minh on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Popular Education Sector (September 8, 1945 - September 8, 1955).

Book of impressions of leaders and intellectuals on the work of Popular Education. (Source: BTLSQG)

Homemade lamps. In 1951-1954, students at Han Thuyen School, Bac Ninh used medicine and toothpaste boxes as lamps to study at night to avoid enemy planes. (Source: BTLSQG)

On this occasion, the National History Museum held a ceremony to receive documents, images and artifacts about the Popular Education Movement donated by individuals and organizations.

The museum also launched the Augmented Reality (AR) experience technology application based on the Visual Positioning System (VPS) at the permanent exhibition system and the thematic exhibition room "Education for the masses - Lighting up the future" implemented by the National Museum of History in collaboration with Viettel High Tech Corporation.

This is the first time spatial computing technology has been applied in a museum to display digital content in real time. Visitors can use their phones to explore artifacts through 3D models, documentaries, illustrative effects and automatic explanations. This experience not only brings a modern, personalized way of visiting, but also makes documents and artifacts more vivid and accessible, opening up a new direction in preserving and spreading heritage values ​​through digital technology.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/nhieu-hien-vat-ve-cuoc-chien-diet-giac-dot-lan-dau-tien-duoc-cong-bo-post1056932.vnp