Synchronously implement the motto "teacher is teacher, student is student"

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Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW dated August 22, 2025 of the Politburo on breakthrough in education and training development (referred to as Resolution 71) has become a historic decision, affirming that education is not only a top national policy but also a decisive factor in the nation's destiny.

Inheriting the teachings of the late Prime Minister Pham Van Dong in 1981, Resolution 71 determined: "Implementing the motto "teachers are teachers, students are students" in terms of ethics, personality and knowledge. Correcting negative practices in education and honoring the honor of teachers".

Whether Resolution 71 is successfully implemented or not depends partly on the synchronous and resolute implementation of the motto "teacher is teacher, student is student" on all three pillars of ethics, personality and knowledge.

Students of Dich Vong B Primary School (Cau Giay Ward, Hanoi City) on the first day of the 2025-2026 school year. Photo: HUY DANG

The bottleneck of "morality, personality and knowledge"

Resolution 71 reaffirms the supreme position of education, offers breakthrough solutions, especially the development of a decree regulating special preferential policies for the teaching staff. The increase in vocational preferential allowances for Raising the number of preschool and primary school teachers to at least 70% and 100% in disadvantaged areas is a fundamental step to solve material problems and create a foundation for moral and professional correction.

The motto “teachers are teachers, students are students” emphasizes the organic unity between teachers and students: good teachers with standards will lead to good students with good ethics. If Resolution 71 provides financial and institutional tools, this motto is a quality requirement, ensuring the transformation of policies into sustainable social values. Lack of standards in any subject leads to imbalance and systemic degradation, requiring steadfast implementation on three core aspects.

Implementing the motto "teachers are teachers, students are students" is necessary and urgent, aiming to solve serious bottlenecks in quality and ethics that have accumulated in the education sector, creating a negative vicious cycle.

Regarding “teachers as teachers”, the position of teachers – the most noble and creative profession – is eroded by economic pressure. Teachers have to pursue extra teaching to ensure their livelihood, leading to the risk of profiteering, commercialization of education, and tarnishing the honor of the profession. Ethical violations, even in the minority, also weaken the exemplary role. Breakthrough policies on salaries (ranked highest in the administrative career system) and allowances are considered “strategic transactions”: the State uses appropriate treatment in exchange for integrity and absolute professional concentration. Removing the economic burden helps teachers wholeheartedly maintain ethical standards, personality and knowledge.

Regarding “good behavior”, the crisis of school ethics and personality is increasingly alarming. According to information from the Ministry of Education and Training, in 5 years (2017-2022), there were more than 2,600 cases of school violence nationwide. The root cause is the incomplete development of personality, lack of behavioral skills and good living of students. Students beat their friends but witnesses do not stop them, even encourage them, reflecting the crisis of behavioral culture. Weak school management, chasing after achievements leads to concealment of incidents, lack of reporting, thorough handling, reducing the deterrence of the law. This consequence comes from the absence of standards of teachers and failure to prioritize moral education.

Strengthening teacher personality and student ethics

The implementation of the motto "teachers are teachers, students are students in terms of ethics, personality and knowledge" in the spirit of Resolution 71 is an accurate and comprehensive definition.

“A teacher is a teacher” includes: Ethics - absolute honesty, dedication, stopping profiteering from extra teaching; personality - exemplary, professional dignity, promoting creativity; knowledge - outstanding ability, updating knowledge, innovating teaching.

“Students with integrity” aims at comprehensive learners: Ethics - respect, solidarity, self-control, saying no to negativity; personality - forming life ideals, cultural behavior skills; knowledge - proactive learning, practical application, aiming towards global standards.

The implementation of Resolution 71 must combine the enhancement of treatment (honoring honor) and the tightening of discipline and management (correcting negative behavior). To effectively implement the strategy of "teachers are teachers, students are students in terms of ethics, personality and knowledge", it is necessary to deploy and implement groups of solutions synchronously.

First of all, the group of breakthrough solutions on remuneration policies: Urgently develop a decree to realize the commitment to rank teachers' salaries as the highest in the administrative system. Complete in 2026 the increase in vocational incentives to at least 70% for preschool and general education teachers; increase to 100% for particularly difficult areas. Commit to spending at least 20% of the state budget on education, shifting to an allocation mechanism based on mission, quality and efficiency, encouraging healthy competition. At the same time, it is necessary to create conditions for teachers to go on tours, travel or do scientific research to expand their knowledge.

Second, the group of solutions for managing and controlling negative aspects. First, it is necessary to control and make extra teaching transparent: Extra teaching/learning activities need to be strictly managed according to new regulations (such as Circular No. 29/2024/TT-BGDDT dated December 30, 2024 of the Ministry of Education and Training) to restore the purity and health of this activity. It is necessary to strengthen monitoring, inspection and examination solutions in a systematic and serious manner. This is not only to completely eliminate forms of profiteering and forcing students to take extra classes, but also to ensure that teachers can fully focus on teaching the main subjects, restoring the trust of society.

To address the situation of "bad students" and curb school violence, establishing school discipline requires a harmonious combination of strictness and tolerance. However, educational institutions must resolutely overcome the situation of concealing incidents and must immediately report to the police for timely resolution and prevention of complications. Disciplinary actions must be made public to both students and related people (including teachers or administrators if there are violations). Strictness in management and increased deterrence are key factors to restore a safe and standard learning environment.

Third, the group of solutions to develop capacity and pedagogical environment. In addition to financial policies, it is necessary to focus on improving the quality of the teaching staff, encouraging participation in scientific research, taking advantage of international scholarship and training opportunities. Schools need to be more proactive in moral education and life skills, promptly identifying signs of deviation. At the same time, it is necessary to mobilize all social resources through public-private partnerships, strengthen the role of funding funds and gradually shift to a mechanism of ordering training according to output results.

The strategic recommendation is to develop non-financial KPIs to measure the effectiveness of implementing the motto “teachers are teachers, students are students”, including: Teacher ethics index (reducing profiteering from extra teaching) and school safety index (reducing complex school violence). At the same time, it is necessary to ensure that the Law on Teachers is implemented consistently with special preferential policies for teachers.

With perseverance, Vietnam's education will have a fundamental breakthrough, creating a high-quality, comprehensive human resource, thereby affirming and deciding the nation's destiny and future in the new era.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/thuc-thi-dong-bo-phuong-cham-thay-ra-thay-tro-ra-tro-5060980.html