(Live): 26 million students enter new school year

This morning, September 5, nearly 30 million students and nearly 1.7 million teachers nationwide entered the new school year with a special opening ceremony.

Students of Dinh Tien Hoang Primary School, Hiep Phu Ward, Ho Chi Minh City on the opening day, September 5 morning - Photo: QUANG DINH

Unlike previous years, the opening ceremony of the new school year 2025 - 2026 is also an occasion to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the education sector's tradition. The ceremony took place at the National Convention Center (Hanoi), broadcast live on VTV1 - Vietnam Television and connected online to all educational and training institutions across the country from 8:00 to 9:30.

Before the opening ceremony, many schools across the country organized diverse and meaningful activities for teachers and students, solemnly held welcoming ceremonies for first, sixth, and tenth graders at all levels, and honored students with outstanding achievements...

General Secretary To Lam, President Luong Cuong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man attended the opening ceremony, celebrating 80 years of education tradition - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son speaks at the ceremony to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the education sector's tradition and the opening of the 2025-2026 school year - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

Students of Chu Van An Primary School, Hanoi on the opening day - Photo: NAM TRAN

Welcoming ceremony for 10th grade students at Phan Huy Chu High School, Hanoi - Photo: VINH HA

Special opening ceremonies in Ho Chi Minh City

In Ho Chi Minh City, schools held welcoming ceremonies for new students very early to broadcast the anniversary of the establishment of the Ministry of National Education at 8 a.m. At Tran Phu High School, Phu Tho Hoa Ward, Mr. Nguyen Van Duoc, Deputy Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee and Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee attended.

Starting as the second branch of Nguyen Thuong Hien High School in the 1980-1981 school year, Tran Phu High School is now one of the top public high schools in the city. After many renovations and constructions, Tran Phu School now has a spacious, modern facility for 2,000 students.

Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Van Duoc attended the opening ceremony at Tran Phu High School (Phu Tho Hoa ward) - Photo: THANH HIEP

At the opening ceremony of Tan Phu Primary, Secondary and High School, Tan Phu Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, Mr. Bui Xuan Cuong, Member of the City Party Committee - Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee attended. This is a "late born" school (established in 2007) in Ho Chi Minh City but has quickly caught up with the process of innovation and integration.

With the goal of building a happy school with a creative learning ecosystem, the school not only focuses on academics but also enhances the teaching of foreign languages, information technology, sports, arts... to ensure "output" according to international standards. In particular, in the subject of life skills, students of Tan Phu School learn and practice self-leadership skills. According to Mr. Ngo Vinh Truong, the school's principal: "Students must master themselves first, then they can master technology, master the future"...

Mr. Bui Xuan Cuong, Member of the City Party Committee - Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, awarded the Third Class Labor Medal of the President to Tan Phu Primary, Secondary and High School, Tan Phu Ward. This is a "late born" school (established in 2007) in Ho Chi Minh City but has achieved many outstanding achievements - Photo: NHU HUNG

At the opening ceremony of the Binh Chanh Center for Supporting the Development of Inclusive Education, Tuoi Tre Newspaper - Thien Tam Fund donated 408 million VND to the center. In addition, Canh Cam Charity Fund also awarded 30 scholarships (30 million VND).

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Phuoc Loc - Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City acknowledged the efforts of the Center's teaching staff in caring for and educating children with special circumstances, helping them confidently integrate into the community. He emphasized that this is a noble job that needs to be respected and encouraged.

He also expressed his appreciation for the humanitarian gestures of Tuoi Tre Newspaper, Canh Cam Charity Fund and many organizations and individuals who have accompanied the cause of special education.

"That sharing not only has material value but also adds confidence and encouragement to teachers and students of the Center on the journey of spreading knowledge and nurturing dreams," Mr. Loc emphasized.

Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City Nguyen Phuoc Loc (right) and Mr. Pham Van Luy, Secretary of the Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Council of Binh Hung commune presented gifts and scholarships to students - Photo: HUU HANH

Deputy Head of the Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Tang Huu Phong (blue shirt left), Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training Nguyen Ke Toai (white shirt) and Mr. Dinh Minh Trung, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Tuoi Tre newspaper, presented gifts and scholarships to students - Photo: HUU HANH

Opening ceremony at the 119-year-old school, the only "bridge" of vocational education

Among the first "connection points" to be broadcast live in 2025, Cao Thang Technical College is the only representative of the vocational education sector (college, intermediate school...) nationwide. In the 2025-2026 school year, the school will welcome 4,500 new students.

Speaking at the ceremony on the morning of September 5, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Phan Thi Thang praised the achievements of the school's teachers and students, and asked the school to continue to innovate its training programs and teaching methods in the direction of enhancing practice, linked to the requirements of businesses; promote the application of technology and digital transformation in education, build a modern and creative learning environment....

Dr. Le Dinh Kha - the school's principal, emphasized the 119-year tradition of formation and development of Cao Thang, where both President Ho Chi Minh and President Ton Duc Thang studied. He urged the new students of the 2025 class to make the most of the modern learning environment with full facilities, international standard programs, and advanced support tools such as E-learning, AI Chatbot to achieve many achievements, continuing to write the "green epic" of previous generations.

Opening ceremony in My Ly flood-hit area

On the morning of September 5, the air in the border commune of My Ly, Nghe An was cool and fresh. From early morning, the yard of My Ly 2 Kindergarten was filled with the laughter of children in their new uniforms. This year, the school also welcomed students from My Ly 2 Primary Ethnic Minority School to attend the opening ceremony.

Due to the impact of the historic flood at the end of July, the main campus of My Ly 2 Primary School in Xang Tren village was devastated by the flood, so there were no more classes for students to study, forcing the school to organize the opening ceremony together with the preschool students.

Mr. Tran Sy Ha - the school's principal, said: While waiting for the police force and benefactors to support the reconstruction of the new school, the school had to temporarily borrow the village's cultural house so that the students would have a place to study. The school also arranged for teachers to stay in the village and spread out to 6 other satellite schools to maintain normal teaching and learning for students in remote areas.

"Although teaching and learning conditions are still extremely difficult and lacking, the school's teachers are still determined and make every effort to ensure the curriculum," Mr. Ha shared.

Teachers of My Ly 2 Kindergarten welcomed primary school students to the opening ceremony on the morning of September 5. This school year, primary school students will study with kindergarten students because the school was swept away by floodwaters - Photo: TAM PHAM

Warm opening ceremony of special students

At the Da Nang Center for Supporting the Development of Inclusive Education (Hoa Khanh Ward, Da Nang City), the opening ceremony atmosphere became more special with small flags fluttering in the hands of students and the clear sound of the bamboo flute of Nguyen Thanh Tung, a blind 4th grade student. That joyful tone blends with the excitement of the first day of school across the country, as a testament to the persistent efforts of the students here.

In the moment when the children were still shyly holding the teacher's hand when leaving their parents' arms, the center's director, Ms. Dang Thanh Tung, said: "You are not unlucky people, you are proof of the strength of will, the light of perseverance. Every step you take on the path of education, no matter how slow or bumpy, carries within it a great and profound value. You are learning to master your own future - a future that may be different, but is limitless."

Also during the special opening ceremony, the center connected with support from benefactors to help students with especially difficult circumstances.

Teachers and students of the Danang Center for Supporting the Development of Inclusive Education are happy on the opening day of school - Photo: CHAU SA

New school year at the most difficult school in Hue city

At exactly 7am, the opening ceremony of the new school year took place at Hong Thuy Primary and Secondary School (A Luoi 1 Commune, Hue City). This is one of the most disadvantaged schools in Hue City because it is located in a mountainous commune, difficult to travel to and bordering Laos. Most of the students at the school are from disadvantaged economic backgrounds.

In addition to the main school located about 40km from the center of A Luoi 1 commune, the school also has two other schools located near the border area. During rainy and flooded days, teachers face many difficulties in traveling.

Mr. Ho Xuan Tai, the school’s principal, said that this year’s opening season, the school welcomed more than 400 students to class. Despite the difficulties in facilities, the school’s teachers are determined to stay in the school and the village, regularly coordinating with the border guards to visit each poor household to encourage them to send their children to school.

"I am also very happy that recently, with the attention of the city leaders, the local government has conducted a survey of the school's facilities to build many new classrooms and functional rooms to serve the teaching and learning needs at the school," Mr. Tai shared.

Students of Hong Thuy Primary and Secondary School welcome the new school year - Photo: BAO PHU

Schools in Truong Sa special zone open new school year

Truong Sa Special Zone has 4 primary schools: Truong Sa Primary School, Song Tu Tay Primary School, Sinh Ton Primary School and Da Tay Primary School.

Speaking to Tuoi Tre Online, Mr. Pham Thanh Liem - Chairman of the People's Committee of Truong Sa special zone, said that in recent days, cadres, soldiers and people have organized cleaning of schools, rearranged classrooms, decorated for the festival... The special zone government also organized meetings to encourage teachers working on the island, creating the most favorable conditions for teachers to feel secure in teaching.

"Due to the special nature of the project, we have equipped students with learning tools, books, documents, and even clothes that we bring from the mainland for them. We believe that in the 2025-2026 school year, teachers and students in the special zone will achieve many high achievements," said Mr. Liem.

Mr. Bui Tien Anh, a teacher at Song Tu Tay Primary School, shared that during his vacation on the mainland, he took the opportunity to prepare lesson plans and update his knowledge to prepare for the new school year. "We consider our students as our own children, so we always try our best to impart knowledge to them," he said.

Mr. Ha Van Thong - Head of the Preschool Education - Primary Education Department (Department of Education and Training of Khanh Hoa province) added that in early August every year, the department fully prepares everything for teachers and students in Truong Sa special zone. During the summer, the Department of Education and Training worked directly with the leaders of Truong Sa special zone to grasp their thoughts and aspirations and then come up with timely solutions.

Soldiers, students and teachers go to Da Tay Primary School in Truong Sa special zone to attend the opening ceremony of the new school year - Photo: NGOC ANH

Teachers adjust students' uniforms in Truong Sa special zone (Khanh Hoa province) during the first class of the new school year - Photo: NGOC ANH

Opening ceremony at the storm-damaged school

On the morning of September 5, Son Loc Secondary School (Xuan Loc Commune, Ha Tinh) held its opening ceremony after a period of efforts to overcome the effects of storm No. 5.

Storm No. 5 made landfall in Ha Tinh, causing severe damage to the local infrastructure. In the education sector alone, the entire province had 286 facilities damaged by Storm No. 5, many schools had their roofs blown off, classrooms collapsed, were flooded, and desks, chairs, and equipment were damaged, with an estimated loss of nearly VND136 billion.

Among the above-mentioned affected educational facilities, Son Loc Secondary School (Xuan Loc Commune, Ha Tinh) suffered very heavy damage. At this school, the roof of the classrooms, functional rooms, equipment, and 13-room library was completely blown off, brick walls were blown down by the storm, and many computers, teaching equipment, and books were damaged.

Mr. Hoang The Anh - the school's principal, said: "In order to be ready for the new school year, the school is temporarily using the main classroom for students to practice, although this is very inconvenient for both teachers and students. In the long term, the school hopes to have a new building to use as practice rooms, and at the same time be supported with equipment to serve the teaching of the students."

On the morning of September 5, students of Son Loc Secondary School attended the opening ceremony next to the building destroyed by storm No. 5 - Photo: LE MINH

Students in border and mountainous areas wake up early to go to the opening ceremony.

From 6am, students dressed up and arrived at Tak Po school , Tra Tap commune, Da Nang city, the school that "caused a storm" on social networks with its simple, rustic opening ceremony in 2019.

The school is located on a hill with green grasslands, under the green areca trees. Students arrive at the school when the clouds are still hanging over the mountainside, each holding a bright red national flag in their hands, eagerly waiting for the opening ceremony.

Ms. Tra Thi Thu, a teacher at Chu Van An Primary Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities, said that the Tak Po school has two classes, a preschool class taught by two teachers from Phong Lan Kindergarten with 22 children and a primary class taught by Ms. Thu with 16 students. This morning, the teachers organized a simple, rustic and pure opening ceremony for 38 children in this peaceful remote area.

Ms. Tra Thi Thu and students at Tak Po school before the opening ceremony - Photo: LE TRUNG

Students at Tak Po school waiting for the opening ceremony - Photo: LE TRUNG

At Vo Thi Sau Secondary School (Buon Don Commune, Dak Lak Province), students also arrived early. This is the only school in the province located close to the border, and is also a direct connection point to the National Convention Center.

According to Mr. Thai Van Loc - the school's principal, this direct connection is an opportunity for students in remote and border areas to participate in a very special and memorable opening ceremony. "This is also an opportunity for the school to convey its thoughts and wishes to the leaders of the ministry and the Government," he shared.

Students of Vo Thi Sau Secondary School in the border commune of Buon Don, Dak Lak prepare for the opening ceremony - Photo: TRUNG TAN

The weather in Buon Don commune, Dak Lak is quite hot, the little student uses a hand fan to fan the teacher - Photo: MINH PHUONG

Students in the southernmost part of the country go to the opening ceremony

This morning at Primary School 1 in Dat Mui Commune, Ca Mau Province, known as the southernmost point of the country, the opening ceremony of the new school year took place.

Dat Mui Commune has about 3,300 students with 7 schools. This new school year, although many places have rural roads, there are still a few hundred students who have to go to school by water. Those who live on the main roads go by boat, while those who live on the small branch roads have their parents take a sampan to school and wait to pick them up.

Phan Gia Huy, class 3D, Primary School 1, Dat Mui Commune, said he wakes up at 5am to travel about 7km by water to school. Nguyen Van Teo, a parent, shared that he spends about 300,000 VND a day on gas, food, and taking his two children to and from school.

Many students in Ca Mau have to wake up at 5am and go to school by boat or their family's boat... - Photo: THANH HUYEN

From 6:30 a.m. on September 5, at An Son Secondary School in Nam Du archipelago, Kien Hai special zone, An Giang, the atmosphere of the first day of school was bustling. Ms. Nguyen Thi Huynh Tam - acting principal of the school, said that before the opening ceremony, the school had renovated classrooms and cleaned the school grounds.

The special feature of Nam Du island is that the national power grid has not been extended yet, so the locality prioritizes the power grid (generators) for schools to organize a more complete and cozy new school year welcoming ceremony with many welcoming performances prepared by the students.

"This school year, our school is expected to have about 300 students (middle and high school). There are still many students in difficult circumstances. Teachers have mobilized donors to support textbooks and awarded 12 scholarships to help them go to school. We are determined not to let them drop out of school due to difficulties," said Ms. Tam.

Students of An Son Secondary School, Kien Hai Special Zone - about 100km from Rach Gia, happily attended the opening ceremony - Photo: CHI CONG

The school year of innovation

The 2025-2026 school year marks the implementation of many major policies and guidelines, such as the implementation of four laws on education, including: the Law on Teachers , the Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Education, the amended Law on Higher Education, and the amended Law on Vocational Education.

This is also the year to implement the national target program on education and training development, tuition exemption and support, organize boarding meals, build a school system in land border communes...

Going back in time, right after the success of the August Revolution, the Ministry of National Education was established (August 28, 1945) with the mission of building a completely new education system, of the people, by the people and for the people.

Teacher and students on the first day of the new school year - Photo: NGUYEN LAM

During the period 1945 - 1954, the Popular Education and Cultural Supplementary Education movements were a miracle, eliminating illiteracy for millions of people and improving people's knowledge. The school system was constantly expanded to train key human resources for the cause of "resistance and nation building".

Inheriting the achievements of the previous period, in the period 1954 - 1975, the North basically eliminated illiteracy. Tens of thousands of cadres, intellectuals, engineers, doctors, and teachers were trained both domestically and sent to socialist countries for training, becoming the key force in building the North and supporting the South.

In the South, in the liberated areas, revolutionary education proved its flexibility and persistence, building a network of democratic schools and training cadres to serve the resistance.

The most outstanding achievement of education in the period 1975 - 1986 was the successful unification of the national education system. The network of schools from kindergarten to university was maintained and expanded; success in eliminating illiteracy and improving people's knowledge. This was also the period of building a comprehensive system of educational guidelines and policies, which became the guiding principle for the sector's activities for a long time.

Since 1986, the system of policies and laws on education has been continuously improved, clearly demonstrating the viewpoint that "education and training are the top national policy". In particular, Resolution No. 29-NQ/TW identifies fundamental and comprehensive innovation in education and training, shifting from mainly equipping knowledge to comprehensively developing learners' qualities and capacities...

VINH HA - LE TRUNG - TRUNG TAN - THANH HUYEN - CHI CONG - NGUYEN HOANG

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/sang-nay-thay-tro-ca-nuoc-don-le-khai-giang-dac-biet-20250904215152619.htm