80 years of educational innovation: Accelerating in the digital age

TPO - In mid-2013, the conference room in Hanoi became strangely silent. At first, the delegates absorbed each paragraph of Resolution 29-NQ/TW, issued on November 4, 2013, marking a new turning point: "Education is the top national policy", which needs to be fundamentally and comprehensively reformed to meet the requirements of industrialization, modernization and international integration. This is not only a call but also a strong commitment to a real educational revolution.

At that time, Vietnamese education entered the digital age with the flame of innovation lit in every policy, every program, every school.

New general education program – From knowledge to capacity

In the summer of 2020, at a school in the West, teacher Le Huong organized teaching according to the 2018 General Education Program for her students. There were no more dry formulas or long lectures, instead there were experiential activities, discussions and career guidance.

The 2018 General Education Program is the result of a profound shift in perspective. The education program must develop five qualities and ten core competencies for students, helping them become well-rounded citizens who know how to self-learn, cooperate, and be creative.

In particular, thematic integrated subjects are flexibly arranged, helping students not learn mechanically but know how to apply knowledge to real life. The program is implemented according to the roadmap from grade 1 (school year 2020-2021), gradually expanding to grade 12 in the school year 2024-2025.

This is the first time that Vietnamese general education has focused heavily on competencies and career guidance, moving away from the purely knowledge-transferring teaching method.

Digital Transformation and Online Learning – When the Classroom Has No Brick Walls

Kim Loc, a high school student in Hanoi, recalls the time in 2021 when the city broke out with the COVID-19 epidemic: “Classes moved online. On rainy days and when the internet was slow, teachers and students still tried to connect through the screen. Strangely, the absence from class did not make the love of literature disappear.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed education. Online learning has become a mandatory solution. Stories of Zoom, Google Meet, and VNEdu classes have become popular. Students who do not go to school are still taught, students who do not know their teachers are still inspired.

The entire education system has begun to invest heavily in smart schools, E-learning, and digital platforms to support testing and assessment - so that no one is left behind in the digital revolution.

International integration and quality control

Not only transforming domestically, Vietnamese education has also begun to integrate into the internationalization trend.



Universities open their admission portals in English, sign international cooperation programs, and exchange students with partner universities. Educational institutions participate in international accreditation to ensure quality control, creating a foundation for Vietnamese education to connect globally.

Accreditation criteria from AUN-QA (ASEAN University Network – Quality Assurance) appear in many major universities. Teachers are encouraged to study abroad, bringing their doctoral knowledge back to serve the program and teaching. That is the way to improve not only the quantity, but also the quality of education to catch up with the integration trend.

Universal education in the digital age

One morning in early 2025, at a vocational training center in Thanh Hoa , the teaching department implemented a digital skills training program for older workers. Everyone was given an online learning account and could access lectures on tablets at the Center. It was a vivid image of the concept of “Digital Literacy for the People” – a modern version of the literacy movement that once spread literacy across the country.

Universal digital literacy is not just a concept – it is a call from the education sector to bring digital skills to all people, regardless of age, geography or level. According to the announcement of the Ministry of Education and Training, the goals by 2026 include: 100% of cadres, civil servants and public employees have digital capacity, 100% of primary school students and above have digital knowledge and skills, 100% of adults have basic digital skills, and up to 60 million adults confirm that they have achieved universal digital skills on the VNeID platform.

General Secretary To Lam speaks at a meeting with teachers and education managers on the occasion of Vietnamese Teachers' Day on November 18, 2024.

Digital transformation is no longer a concept, but has become a driving force to change the nature of educational institutions. The Ministry of Education and Training has deployed digital transcripts in 63 provinces/cities from the 2023-2024 school year, initially showing many clear effects: saving costs, reducing paperwork, helping management faster and more accurately.

The Massive Open Online Course – MOOC model combined with AI applied in digital skills training has opened the knowledge store to thousands of students, regardless of age or geography.

From Nguyen Huu Huan High School (Thu Duc) to Nguyen Du School (District 10), the smart school model with Wi-Fi throughout the area, standard data warehouse and computer-based multiple-choice testing has become a reality.

In the field of universities and management, the DotB EMS platform at more than 100 training centers supports training management, student information from enrollment to graduation; DotB SEA helps connect students, parents and schools.

“Digital transformation… can only be achieved if everyone is fully equipped with digital skills and information security awareness,” education experts emphasize.

For Vietnam to grow strongly

Developing science, technology, innovation and digital transformation are decisive factors for the development of countries; they are prerequisites and the best opportunities for our country to develop richly and powerfully in the new era. However, the majority of people are not fully equipped with knowledge and skills in digital technology. Therefore, "eliminating illiteracy" about digital transformation has become a particularly important and urgent task so that Vietnam does not fall behind and can rise strongly in the international arena.

Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW dated December 22, 2024 of the Politburo on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation emphasized: "Strengthening the comprehensive leadership of the Party, promoting the combined strength of the entire political system, the active participation of entrepreneurs, enterprises and people in science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation development.

Identifying this as a profound, comprehensive revolution in all fields; deployed resolutely, persistently, synchronously, consistently, and long-term with breakthrough, revolutionary solutions". Therefore, in the context of the world entering the digital age, "Popular education" has taken on a new look - "Digital popular education". It can be said that the "Digital popular education" movement is an important task in the national digital transformation process. Universalizing digital knowledge for all people is the foundation for building a knowledge society, forming a generation of digital citizens who are proactive, creative, and adaptable to the times.

General Secretary To Lam once commented: "This is not only an educational initiative, the "Digital Literacy for All" movement is also a bridge between the past and the future. By promoting historical lessons, we strive to build a society that is not only rich in knowledge but also rich in technological power, ready to integrate and develop."

This journey has only just begun. But with the digital literacy policy, the learning society platform and technology as a launching pad, Vietnam is continuing to write the story of "literacy for all" - not just reading but writing the future.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed: "Digital popular education" is an important task to concretize the Party's guidelines and policies in Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo; respond to and implement the direction of General Secretary To Lam on lifelong learning and deploy the "Digital popular education" movement.

In recent times, the national digital transformation has achieved many positive results. Accordingly, the "Digital Popular Education" movement has been deployed with 3 platforms. Specifically, the One Touch mass open online learning platform and the MobiEdu mass open online learning platform have trained more than 1.2 million officials, civil servants, public employees and workers, and at the same time, provided free digital skills to more than 40 million people. The Digital Popular Education platform has trained more than 200,000 officials, civil servants and armed forces.

The country is facing a historic opportunity to enter a new era of strong development with the main driving force coming from science, technology, innovation and digital transformation. The Prime Minister noted that the whole country must carry out the especially important and urgent task of popularizing knowledge, technology on digital transformation and digital skills for all people. "Go to every alley, to every house, guide every person" to implement "Digital Literacy for All".

Source: https://tienphong.vn/80-nam-doi-moi-giao-duc-tang-toc-trong-ky-nguyen-so-post1771503.tpo