General Secretary To Lam: Do not impose old standards on modern education

On the morning of September 5, at the National Convention Center (Hanoi), the Ministry of Education and Training held a ceremony to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the tradition of the education sector and open the 2025-2026 school year.

The Ceremony was broadcast live on VTV1, Vietnam Television and digital platforms, connecting from the National Convention Center to educational institutions across the country.

This is the first time that all educational institutions nationwide have performed the flag-raising ceremony and sung the national anthem at the same time during the opening ceremony of the new school year.

General Secretary To Lam beats the drum to open the 2025-2026 school year. (Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA)

General Secretary To Lam attended the ceremony, gave a speech and beat the drum to open the new school year 2025-2026.

Also attending were Politburo members: President Luong Cuong; Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh; National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man; Standing member of the Secretariat Tran Cam Tu; Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Do Van Chien. Also attending were comrades: Politburo members, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Party Central Committee members, leaders, former leaders of the Party, State, leaders of central departments, ministries, branches, and organizations, leaders of localities at the connecting points; leaders, former leaders of the Ministry of Education and Training, Ambassadors, Consuls General, Heads of representative offices of international organizations in Vietnam; along with 1.6 million teachers and 26 million students attending in person and online at connecting points nationwide.

Leading national development through education

Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son speaks. (Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA)

In his speech commemorating the 80th anniversary of the education sector's tradition and opening the 2025-2026 school year, Party Central Committee member and Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son emphasized that the 80-year journey of the education sector has been guided by the vision and educational ideology of President Ho Chi Minh.

Right from the beginning of independence, he not only cared about improving people's knowledge and eliminating ignorance, but more importantly, he revived people's spirit, encouraged their will, passed on their mission and responsibility, and created great inspiration for generations of young people.

Through many glorious historical periods, the Education and Training sector has undergone three major educational reforms and two profound and revolutionary innovations. Under the leadership, ideological orientation and educational guidelines of the Party, the entire sector has gradually built and perfected educational policies and institutions; and has perfected the national education system.

Currently, the country has over 52,000 schools, with enough learning space for 26 million students, of which 65% of general schools meet standards, many of which are spacious and modern.

The force of 1.6 million teachers is well-trained, among which there are elite groups that are not inferior to any teaching force in the world.

The country has 243 universities, more than 800 colleges and vocational schools, both public, private and international. Although not all of them are of high stature or high quality, there are fields and higher education institutions in the top 500 schools in the world, training in most fields and professions that the world has, contributing 75% of the country's scientific research products and inventions.

The number of scientists is also large, there are many talented people, who have made many contributions to the country and the world. “Our country has the foundation and potential as it is today, thanks to the important contribution of education and training. Compared to the world's leading advanced education systems, the education sector still has many things to strive for, to do better... But with such a starting point, such circumstances, such conditions and costs,... what the whole country and the education sector have done in the past 80 years, it is truly a great achievement and very proud, if not a miracle,” Minister Nguyen Kim Son emphasized.

Entering the new school year, the Minister shared that the sector will start implementing Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW dated August 22, 2025 of the Politburo on breakthroughs in education and training development right from the first days of the new school year. At the same time, it will immediately conduct review, self-examination, self-correction, clearly recognize and resolutely overcome the remaining limitations.

In addition, submit to the National Assembly for approval 3 laws, Resolution on special policy mechanism to implement Resolution 71, Resolution on National Target Program on modernization and improvement of education quality.

Representing students nationwide at the ceremony, Vu Bao Duc, a student of the 69th class, majoring in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, shared: “In the coming time, when our generation steps out into the world, we know that, with the uncompromising competition in the fields of technology, engineering and world trade, we will face new and equally fierce challenges, and to win, we not only need will and determination, but also intelligence and new abilities according to the demands of the times. Looking throughout history and the lessons of our ancestors, we will rely firmly on the cultural traditions, on the identity, on the humanistic spirit of the Vietnamese people, we will be humble, honest and brave to learn from the world, to face and overcome new challenges with the spirit: “I am Vietnamese.”

Speaking at the ceremony to celebrate and open the new school year 2025-2026, on behalf of the Party and State leaders, General Secretary To Lam sent warm greetings and best wishes to teachers, educational administrators, and all students nationwide; wishing the education sector to continue to have breakthrough developments, worthy of the tradition of studiousness and aspirations of the heroic Vietnamese people.

The General Secretary recalled that our ancestors taught: “learning must go hand in hand with practice,” “talents are the lifeblood of the nation.” Uncle Ho, in a letter to students on the first day of school in September 1945, wrote: “From this moment on, you will begin to receive a completely Vietnamese education... absorbing an education of an independent country, an education that will train you to become useful citizens of Vietnam, an education that will fully develop your inherent abilities”; affirming that these teachings have been, are and will continue to be the goal to strive for, the motto of action of the country’s education.

The General Secretary emphasized that over the past 80 years, whether in the midst of war or in the cause of peace building, Vietnam's revolutionary education has always been at the forefront: creating human resources, nurturing talents, and making a decisive contribution to the victory of the cause of national liberation, national unification and development. Especially since the renovation, education and training have continuously expanded their networks, improved their quality, and gradually integrated internationally.

Besides the very proud achievements, we also seriously acknowledge that the quality of education is still uneven and the regional differences are still large.

The Politburo has issued Resolution No. 71 on breakthroughs in education and training development. To quickly put the Resolution into practice, the General Secretary suggested that the entire Party must strongly innovate its leadership thinking on education, not impose old standards on a modern education system, but need to closely and substantially direct, organize and implement resolutely, effectively, and consistently consider education as the top national policy.

The National Assembly needs to continue perfecting the legal system, creating a smooth, stable and progressive legal corridor for the cause of education and training innovation.

The Government increases investment, ensures financial resources, facilities, and staff; at the same time, resolutely removes bottlenecks in mechanisms and policies to unblock and maximize all social resources for education.

The Fatherland Front, unions and social organizations need to promote the strength of great solidarity, encourage and spread the movement of the entire people to care for the cause of educating people.

The education sector needs to be a pioneer in innovation in thinking, methods, and management; building a team of teachers who are both knowledgeable, ethical, and have the desire to contribute.

Teachers must be shining examples and sources of inspiration for their students. Students must nurture great ambitions and aspirations, study and train to become global citizens, gradually integrating into international standards while always maintaining Vietnamese identity and soul.

Innovation in education and training in the new period

General Secretary To Lam visits the photo exhibition of the Education sector. (Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA)

To successfully carry out the cause of education and training innovation in the new period, the General Secretary emphasized a number of major orientations, strongly innovating thinking and action. Shifting from “corrective” reform to a creative thinking - leading national development through education; taking quality - equity - integration - efficiency as the measure; tightening enforcement discipline.

Ensure equal access to education, improve the intellectual level of the people. Do not leave any child behind; prioritize remote, border, island and disadvantaged areas; increase investment in schools - school nutrition - teachers - digital infrastructure.

The General Secretary pointed out the need to reform general education in a comprehensive direction; not only imparting knowledge, but also nurturing personality - training the body - nurturing the soul, arousing civic spirit, sense of discipline and social responsibility; forming a generation of people who are "both talented, kind and resilient"; striving to soon universalize general education.

Create breakthroughs in higher education and vocational education. Universities must become centers for knowledge and technology production, and the core of innovation and entrepreneurship; closely link training-research-transfer with the country's development needs; it is necessary to form large universities of regional and international stature, modern vocational training facilities to train high-quality human resources, contributing to the country's breakthrough in science-technology, industrialization and digital transformation.

The General Secretary proposed promoting international integration in education. Integration is to learn from the best, narrow the gap, and spread standards; encourage joint training, program linkage, credit recognition, lecturer-student exchange, and attract international scholars; thereby enhancing the position of Vietnamese education.

The General Secretary emphasized the need to focus on building a team of teachers and educational administrators. Teachers are the soul of education and the decisive factor in the success or failure of innovation. Teachers not only impart knowledge, but also sow aspirations, foster character, and light up beliefs in students. Therefore, teachers themselves must constantly study, be creative, and set exemplary examples.

The Law on Teachers passed by the National Assembly is the foundation to ensure the improvement of material life, rights and legitimate interests, while improving professional standards, ethics, responsibilities and social status of teachers.

The General Secretary requested to promote digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI) in education; prioritize investment in education, investment in education is investment in the future of the nation; master plan, arrange the system (especially public universities) to form training-research-innovation centers on par with the region, reaching international level; use public spending effectively, not spread out; strengthen public-private cooperation, strongly mobilize social resources to join hands in the cause of cultivating people.

General Secretary To Lam pins the First Class Labor Medal on the traditional flag of the Ministry of Education and Training. (Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA)

The General Secretary expressed that building a learning society and encouraging lifelong learning is the most solid foundation for a self-reliant nation. It is not only the luggage of each individual, but also the core value of the nation, ensuring that our nation advances with the times, affirming Vietnam's mettle and intelligence in the international arena.

On the occasion of the opening of the new school year 2025-2026, the General Secretary advised: Set clear goals; practice self-discipline in self-study; nurture a passion for discovery; improve capacity, master digital technology and artificial intelligence in a smart, safe and humane way; know how to love, share, and live responsibly for yourself, your family and the community. Every step forward of you is the future of the country.

Young students should practice well the five teachings of Uncle Ho; high school students need to cultivate their personality, civic awareness, enrich their knowledge and nurture their aspirations; university students should nurture great ambitions, dare to think, dare to do, be at the forefront of science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, green economy and international integration, study and practice to become useful workers for their families and society.

General Secretary To Lam attended the ceremony to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the tradition of the education sector. (Photo: Thong Nhat/ VNA)

The General Secretary affirmed that our Party always considers education and training as the top national policy, the key driving force that determines the future of the nation. More than ever, we must consider investment in education as investment in the future, for the sustainable and strong development of the country; calling on the entire Party, the entire people, the entire army; all levels, sectors, localities; each family and each citizen to join hands to care for the cause of educating people, for the future of our children, for the prosperity of the Fatherland, for the happiness of the people.

On this occasion, on behalf of the Party and State leaders, General Secretary To Lam awarded the First Class Labor Medal to the Ministry of Education and Training for its outstanding achievements in State management of training and nurturing talented students to win high prizes in regional and international Olympic competitions, contributing to improving the effectiveness of training high-quality human resources to serve the country's socio-economic development in the 2023-2025 period.

Source: VNA

Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/tong-bi-thu-to-lam-khong-ap-dat-nhung-chuan-muc-cu-cho-nen-giao-duc-hien-dai-20250905120055984.htm