For remote areas, education is the best way to escape poverty and take control of one's own destiny. At the opening ceremony this morning at Gia Lai Province Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities, President Vo Van Thuong's speech contained many important and urgent tasks of education in this land. The President said that Gia Lai is a locality with a very important strategic position, and the development of education and training is a fundamental task, the foundation for carrying out other tasks in the future. Therefore, Mr. Thuong requested that the Party Committee, government and departments and branches of the province enter the new school year to continue to thoroughly grasp and well implement the policies of the Party and State on fundamental and comprehensive innovation of education and training. The departments and agencies effectively implement the Party and State's policies on education for ethnic minority children, build and develop boarding and semi-boarding schools for ethnic minorities, and general schools with semi-boarding students to actively eliminate illiteracy for ethnic minorities in remote areas.

President Vo Van Thuong talks with students of Gia Lai Province Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities. Photo: VNA.

The President also shared his feelings to teachers, students and parents across the country on the occasion of the opening of the new school year, not only in his capacity as President but also as "a person who also went to school like the students, spent time standing on the podium like the teachers and also spent time working as a local manager". Through that, Mr. Thuong expressed his concerns and expectations that agencies, branches, parents and society would join hands to take care of the country's education and training cause. According to the President, the establishment of a system of ethnic boarding schools in particular and the importance of education for ethnic minority children in general is a policy that demonstrates the thinking and strategic vision of the Party and the State. This is a policy of great topicality and practical significance. "If we do a good job in educating and training ethnic minority children, we will create a solid foundation to carry out other tasks well. For remote areas and ethnic minority children, I think that education and training is the best way to escape poverty, to rise up and take control of their destiny, to take control of their lives in the future. For the locality, if education and training are done well, especially for ethnic minorities, it will also contribute to creating a foundation for building quality human resources for the political system, maintaining political security, social order and safety in the locality, promoting socio-economic development...", Mr. Thuong emphasized. The President also said that due to the starting point, the living conditions of ethnic minority students are not as favorable as those of students in the lowlands and urban areas, therefore, with the same educational program, schools and teachers must pay special attention to educational and teaching methods; must be persistent, tenacious, certain, have pedagogical methods suitable for each class, each age, even each student. “The task of teachers is to help students develop their own unique and creative personalities. So that each student can discover their true abilities, talents and goals in life, from which they can strive and practice”. Schools and local authorities must pay attention to creating an environment that combines learning and practice; in addition to the curriculum in the classroom, there are also activities such as labor, production, entertainment, etc., thereby helping students to have a clearer and more complete understanding of their learning tasks and their comprehensive development, and clearly define their future goals. In addition to the task of teaching and learning, the President also wants schools to fully implement the state's policies and regimes towards students; must constantly care for and pay attention to the material and spiritual lives of students, as well as teachers. “I hope that the students will always consider the Ethnic Boarding School where they are studying as their home, always respect and be grateful to their teachers. I always hope that, when they leave this school, they will become active citizens, contributing a lot to the development of the locality and the Central Highlands region. I hope that among them, everyone will be successful and among those successful, many will continue the noble career of becoming teachers to continue to pass on knowledge, skills and qualities to the next generation,” said Mr. Thuong.

President Vo Van Thuong beats the drum to open the new school year 2023-2024.

'The bright future of the Fatherland lies in your dreams and noble ambitions' Previously, on the occasion of the opening of the new school year, the President also sent a letter to students, teachers, managers and workers in the entire education sector. In the letter, the President wrote that the aspiration to develop a prosperous and happy country, "standing shoulder to shoulder with the world powers" can only be achieved when the country has citizens with intelligence and dignity, who love their family, the Fatherland and their compatriots; live decently and work effectively; dare to defend the right, and be brave and alert against bad and evil things. "I always put my trust in you. I see the bright future of my Fatherland in your vitality and in your noble dreams and ambitions," the President wrote. The President also emphasized that our Party and State always identify education as the top national policy. Educating and training students is a common task of schools, families and society. A country that wants to develop must have high-quality education, and investing in education is investing in sustainable development. “I hope that teachers will always maintain their passion and dedication to their profession, have the courage to overcome all obstacles and difficulties, and contribute more to the noble cause of educating people. I hope that parents, for the future of their children, will accompany schools and society in educating and caring for their children.” The President's letter was sent in the context of the 2023-2024 school year, when the education sector continues to implement the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress; Resolution of the National Assembly on the 5-year Socio-Economic Development Plan 2021-2025, Action Program of the Government for the 2021-2026 term to implement the Resolution of the National Assembly on the 5-year Socio-Economic Development Plan 2021-2025... The Ministry of Education and Training has recently issued 12 tasks for the 2023-2024 school year to implement the theme as well as the set goals. However, one of the biggest concerns of the education sector at present is the shortage of more than 118,000 teachers at all levels. According to statistics, the country is currently short of 118,253 teachers, an increase of 11,308 compared to the 2021-2022 school year (preschool level increased by 7,887 people, primary level increased by 169 people, secondary level increased by 1,207 people, high school level increased by 2,045 people). In addition, policies and incentives for teachers are still limited; facilities and teaching equipment in remote schools are lacking... are still some of the challenges that the education sector must overcome.