UNESCO accompanies education innovation and development in Vietnam

GD&TĐ - On the morning of July 9, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Pham Ngoc Thuong worked with Mr. JonaThan Baker - UNESCO Representative in Vietnam.

Promoteeducational development

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Minister Pham Ngoc Thuong affirmed that the Party and State always pay attention to and consider education and training as the top national policy. There have been many policies, decisions and specific actions to promote education development such as: exempting tuition fees for preschool and general education; directing the development of a national target program on education and training.

“It is expected that in July 2025, the Politburo will issue a Resolution on breakthroughs in education and training,” the Deputy Minister informed, emphasizing that Vietnam’s education and training have undergone strong innovations, including with the active assistance and support of UNESCO.

The Deputy Minister recalled his work with UNESCO in Vietnam, many of which were related to education and training; especially during the drafting of the Law on Teachers, the Ministry of Education and Training received advice from UNESCO in formulating policies. The Law has now been passed by the National Assembly and will take effect from January 1, 2026.

In order for the Law on Teachers to soon come into effect and promote its effectiveness and value in practice, the Ministry of Education and Training will advise the Government to issue 3 Decrees and develop nearly 20 guiding Circulars to be issued at the same time the Law takes effect.

These documents play a key role in specifying the provisions of the Law, ensuring consistency and synchronization throughout the system and creating a legal corridor, helping the policies of the Law to be put into practice soon, so that teachers can have early access to the prescribed policies.

"In the process of developing the Decree and Circular guiding the implementation of the Law on Teachers, the Ministry of Education and Training really needs to consult UNESCO," Deputy Minister Pham Ngoc Thuong expressed.

Deputy Minister Pham Ngoc Thuong discussed at the meeting.

In recent times, education and training have continued to innovate in an inclusive and sustainable manner. The 2018 general education program has completed its first cycle, and it is expected that by the end of this year, the Ministry of Education and Training will organize a review and draw lessons. The Deputy Minister hopes that Mr. JonaThan Baker will provide advice, suggestions, and support in the process of educational innovation in Vietnam.

Many cooperation results in education and training

Expressing his delight at the results of the coordination in building a learning society and lifelong learning between the Ministry of Education and Training and UNESCO, the Deputy Minister said that the Prime Minister has decided to approve the Project "Building a learning society for the period 2021 - 2030".

The general objective of the Project is to continue and create fundamental changes in building a learning society to ensure that by 2030 all people have equal opportunities to access an open, diverse, flexible, interconnected, and modern education system with many training models, methods, and levels. Thereby, contributing to promoting the development of human resources, especially high-quality human resources to meet the requirements of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and international integration.

The Deputy Minister said that General Secretary To Lam launched the “Digital Education for All” movement during the national digital transformation period. The Ministry of Education and Training promotes STEM education, enhances the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in management and the capacity to use AI in teaching and learning.

Mr. JonaThan Baker acknowledged the comments of Deputy Minister Pham Ngoc Thuong.

The Ministry of Education and Training aims to make AI a common tool for every learner, teacher and education manager by 2035. The Prime Minister also issued a National Strategy on AI Research, Development and Application by 2030. From practice, the Deputy Minister hopes that UNESCO will have many consultations and recommendations for Vietnam to promote digital transformation and AI in education and training.

Acknowledging the success in coordinating the construction of the Happy School model, the Deputy Minister shared that UNESCO has supported Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi to successfully implement this model.

“In the near future, we will organize a conference to report on the implementation of the Happy School model to replicate it nationwide, ensuring it is suitable for the practical conditions of each locality,” Deputy Minister Pham Ngoc Thuong emphasized, hoping that UNESCO will continue to support Vietnamese education;

In particular, paying attention to ethnic minority students, female students, and students with disabilities in the direction of equality and sustainable development, with the spirit of leaving no one behind.

The Deputy Minister proposed that UNESCO and the Ministry of Education and Training develop a signing program for each content or develop a general program to have a focal point for exchanging information with each other, build a coordination mechanism to promptly adjust and replicate, and spread positive things.

At the meeting, Mr. JonaThan Baker shared that UNESCO has supported education development and inclusive and equal learning opportunities. It provides policies and enhances support for teachers, including digital capacity, AI, etc. UNESCO is the coordinating unit of the global education network; including the network of scientific and technological research in higher education institutions.

Reviewing some results of cooperation in education and training, Mr. JonaThan Baker mentioned the teacher policy. Typically: The Teacher Law was passed by the National Assembly of Vietnam, creating a breakthrough for the education sector, especially teachers.

Mr. JonaThan Baker expressed that UNESCO is honored to accompany and support the Ministry of Education and Training in the Teachers Law project. “During the process of building the Law, we have made recommendations on teachers' policies,” Mr. JonaThan Baker shared.

The meeting was successful.

UNESCO has signed cooperation agreements with the Government in various fields, including education and training. According to Mr. JonaThan Baker, this is a good time for us to discuss the cooperation framework for 2026, including strengthening cooperation on the digital competency framework; continuing to implement equality in education, and expanding the lifelong learning network in Vietnam. UNESCO cooperates with the Ministry of Education and Training in implementing the Happy School model.

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/unesco-dong-hanh-voi-doi-moi-va-phat-trien-giao-duc-o-viet-nam-post739046.html