General Secretary: Investing in education is investing in the country's sustainable and strong development.

(NLDO) - General Secretary To Lam emphasized that building a learning society and encouraging lifelong learning is the most solid foundation for a self-reliant nation.

On the morning of September 5, at the National Convention Center (Hanoi), the Ministry of Education and Training held a ceremony to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Education sector's tradition and open the 2025-2026 school year.

General Secretary To Lam attended the ceremony, gave a speech and beat the drum to open the new school year 2025-2026.

The Lao Dong Newspaper respectfully introduces the full text of General Secretary To Lam's speech.

General Secretary To Lam speaks at the ceremony to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the education sector's tradition and the opening of the new school year 2025-2026. Photo: Huu Hung

"Today, in the sacred and proud atmosphere of the whole country celebrating the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day September 2, we attend the Opening Ceremony of the new school year , commemorating the 80th anniversary of Uncle Ho sending his first letter to students nationwide and the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the Ministry of National Education - the predecessor of today's Ministry of Education and Training.

This is an opportunity for us to review the glorious tradition and pay tribute to the contributions of generations of teachers and educational administrators across the country. At the same time, this is also an opportunity to affirm our determination to strongly innovate, so that education is truly the top national policy, the key driving force for national development and the future of the nation .

On behalf of the Party and State leaders, I would like to send to teachers, education managers, and all students nationwide my warmest greetings and best wishes. I wish the education sector to continue to make breakthroughs in development, worthy of the tradition of studiousness and aspiration of the heroic Vietnamese people. I congratulate the Ministry of Education and Training on being awarded the First Class Labor Medal.

Our ancestors taught us: "learning must go hand in hand with practice", "talent is the vital energy of the nation"; Uncle Ho, in his letter to students on the first day of school in September 1945, wrote: "From this moment on, you will begin to receive a completely Vietnamese education... absorbing an education of an independent country, an education that will train you to become useful citizens of Vietnam, an education that will fully develop your inherent abilities". Those teachings have been, are and will continue to be the goal to strive for, the motto of action of our country's education.

80 years ago, right after the successful August Revolution, the Provisional Government established the Ministry of National Education - a strategic decision, laying the foundation for the new education of independent Vietnam. Along with that, the "Popular Education" movement broke out strongly with the motto "literate people teach illiterate people". Fighting illiteracy became the "opening front" to improve people's knowledge, unleashing human resources for nation building. Recalling those sacred moments, we further remember the great merit of President Ho Chi Minh and his predecessors, and acknowledge the great contributions of generations of teachers who "devoted themselves to their beloved students" and to the cause of education.

Over the past 80 years, whether in the flames of war or in the cause of peace building, Vietnam's revolutionary education has always been at the forefront: creating human resources, nurturing talents, contributing decisively to the victory of the cause of national liberation, national unification and development. Especially since the renovation, education and training have continuously expanded their network, improved their quality, and gradually integrated internationally.

General Secretary To Lam attended the ceremony to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the tradition of the education sector and open the new school year 2025-2026.

In addition to the very proud achievements, we also seriously acknowledge that the quality of education is still uneven, with large regional differences. Fundamental and comprehensive innovation is not yet synchronized, and there is confusion in both perception and action. University education is slow to innovate, and the linkage between training - research - labor market is not tight. Teaching methods in many places do not encourage creativity and self-learning capacity. Facilities, digital transformation and international integration are still limited and inadequate. There was a period when education did not fully promote its role as a driving force for development. These are issues that require us to resolutely overcome.

Our country is entering a new stage of development, with the goal of becoming a modern industrial country by 2030, and a developed, high-income country by 2045. In the context of globalization, knowledge economy, science and technology and digital transformation developing strongly, education and training must maintain its leading national policy position, becoming a key driving force for national development .

Recently, the Politburo issued Resolution No. 71 on breakthrough in education and training development . This month, the Secretariat will organize a National Conference to disseminate and implement this resolution. This is a resolution of great significance, with strategic vision, with large, specific goals, tasks, and strong breakthrough solutions, bringing Vietnamese education and training into the flow of world education. To quickly bring the resolution into life, I propose:

The entire Party must strongly innovate its leadership thinking on education, not imposing old standards on a modern education, but need to closely and substantially direct, organize and implement resolutely and effectively, and consistently consider education as the top national policy.

The National Assembly needs to continue perfecting the legal system, creating a smooth, stable and progressive legal corridor for the cause of education and training innovation.

The Government increases investment, ensures financial resources, facilities, and staff; at the same time, resolutely removes bottlenecks in mechanisms and policies to unblock and maximize the mobilization of all social resources for education.

The Fatherland Front, unions and social organizations need to promote the strength of great solidarity, encourage and spread the movement of the entire people to care for the cause of educating people.

The education sector needs to be a pioneer in innovation in thinking, methods, and management; building a team of teachers who are knowledgeable, ethical, and have a desire to contribute. Teachers must be shining examples and sources of inspiration for students. Students must nurture great ambitions and aspirations, study and practice to become global citizens, gradually integrating into international standards while always maintaining the Vietnamese identity and soul.

To successfully carry out the cause of education and training innovation in the new period, I would like to emphasize some major orientations:

First, strongly innovate thinking and action . Shift from "corrective" reform to creative thinking - leading national development through education; taking quality - equity - integration - efficiency as measures; tighten enforcement discipline.

Second, ensure equal access to education and improve the intellectual level of the people . Do not leave any child behind; prioritize remote, isolated, border, island and disadvantaged areas; increase investment in schools - school nutrition - teachers - digital infrastructure. Recently, we have exempted tuition fees for all students from kindergarten to high school; some localities have supported the provision of free lunch for children studying 2 sessions. The Politburo has also concluded on the investment policy to build inter-level boarding schools in 248 land border communes. In the immediate future, the pilot investment will complete the construction or renovation of 100 schools in 2025, to be completed by the start of the next school year at the latest.

Third, reform general education in a comprehensive direction . Not only imparting knowledge, but also nurturing personality - training the body - nurturing the soul, arousing civic spirit, sense of discipline and social responsibility; forming a generation of people who are "both talented, kind and resilient"; striving to soon universalize general education.

Fourth, create breakthroughs in higher education and vocational education . Universities must become centers of knowledge and technology production, the core of innovation and entrepreneurship; closely linking training, research and transfer with the country's development needs. It is necessary to form large universities of regional and international stature, modern vocational training facilities, to train high-quality human resources, contributing to the country's breakthrough in science and technology, industrialization and digital transformation.

Fifth, promote international integration in education . Integrate to learn the best, narrow the gap, spread standards; encourage joint training, program linkage, credit recognition, lecturer-student exchange, attract international scholars; thereby enhancing the position of Vietnamese education.

Sixth, take care of building a team of teachers and educational administrators . Teachers are the soul of education, the decisive factor in the success or failure of innovation. Teachers not only impart knowledge, but also sow aspirations, foster personality, and light up beliefs in students. Therefore, teachers themselves must constantly study, be creative, and set exemplary examples. The Law on Teachers passed by the National Assembly is the foundation to ensure the improvement of material life, rights, and legitimate interests, while improving professional standards, ethics, responsibilities, and social status of teachers.

Seventh, promote digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI) in education . Turn technology into a driving force for fundamental and comprehensive innovation: flexible teaching and learning, open learning materials, safe and humane digital platforms; improve digital capacity for teachers and students; ensure data security and safety.

Eighth, prioritize investment in education . Investing in education is investing in the future of the nation. Master plan, arrange the system (especially public universities) to form training - research - innovation centers on par with the region, reaching international level; use public spending effectively, not spread out; strengthen public-private cooperation, strongly mobilize social resources to join hands in the cause of cultivating people.

Ninth, building a learning society, lifelong learning . In the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, knowledge changes every day, every hour; what is advanced today may be outdated tomorrow. Therefore, learning is not only a personal need, but must first be seen as a political responsibility, a permanent revolutionary action of every citizen. At any age, field or profession, we must learn to avoid falling behind, learn to master knowledge and technology, learn to develop ourselves and contribute to building a strong and prosperous country.

Building a learning society and encouraging lifelong learning is the most solid foundation for a self-reliant nation. It is not only the baggage of each individual, but also the core value of the nation, ensuring that our nation advances with the times, affirming the Vietnamese spirit and intelligence in the international arena.

On the occasion of the opening of the new school year 2025-2026, I tell you the following: The previous generation has made victory with blood and bones, today, in peace, integration and aspirations to rise, the responsibility of your generation is to make new victory with knowledge - courage - creativity . Therefore, you: (1) Set clear goals; practice self-discipline ; nurture passion for discovery; (2) Improve capacity, master digital technology and artificial intelligence in a smart, safe and humane way ; (3) Know how to love, share, live responsibly with yourself, your family and the community .

Every step forward of you is the future of the country. Young students should practice well the 5 teachings of Uncle Ho; high school students need to cultivate personality, civic awareness, enrich knowledge and nurture aspirations; university students should have great ambitions, dare to think, dare to do, be at the forefront of science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, green economy and international integration, study and practice to become useful workers for family and society.

Over the past 80 years, the Vietnamese teaching staff has been silently but persistently, sacrificing and making enormous contributions to the cause of " cultivating people ". On behalf of the Party and State leaders, I would like to express my deep gratitude and sincere thanks to generations of teachers. In the new period, I hope that teachers: (1) Continue to set an example, innovate methods, and lead students on the path of knowledge and personality; (2) Pioneer digital transformation, guide students to use technology (especially artificial intelligence) in a creative, effective, safe and humane way; (3) Actively participate in policy contributions, and work with the whole industry to improve the quality and equity in education.

Our Party has always considered education and training as the top national policy, the key driving force that determines the future of the nation. More than ever, we must consider investment in education as investment in the future, in the sustainable and strong development of the country.

The 80th anniversary of Uncle Ho's letter to students and the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the Ministry of Education today is not only an occasion to review the glorious tradition, but more importantly, to affirm the determination to build a modern - humane - integrated Vietnamese education system, contributing to the glory of the nation, bringing the country to stand shoulder to shoulder with the great powers of the five continents.

I call on the entire Party, the entire people, the entire army; all levels, sectors, localities; each family and each citizen - to join hands to care for the cause of educating people, for the future of our children, for the prosperity of the Fatherland, for the happiness of the People.

With the tradition of studiousness, with a team of dedicated teachers, with the efforts of students nationwide, and with the attention of the whole society, I believe that our country's education sector will continue to overcome difficulties, reap many great achievements, and contribute to realizing the aspiration of building a strong and prosperous Vietnam.

On the occasion of the new school year, I wish all teachers, parents, and students across the country a new school year full of enthusiasm, success, and joy!

Source: https://nld.com.vn/tong-bi-thu-dau-tu-cho-giao-duc-la-dau-tu-cho-su-phat-trien-ben-vung-va-hung-cuong-cua-dat-nuoc-196250905110102445.htm