Bringing Vietnamese education into the world's top 20: Teachers - the core driving force

GD&TĐ - The goal of bringing Vietnamese education into the world's top 20 by 2045 according to Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW of the Politburo is not an unrealistic slogan, but a legitimate aspiration, closely linked to the nation's strength and potential.

But to realize that goal, the core is the teacher who inspires the young generation and builds the national character.

The soul of every reform

Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW of the Politburo on breakthroughs in education and training development has a notable point in terms of special and outstanding preferential policies for teachers. That is, increasing the preferential allowance for preschool and general education establishments to at least 70% for teachers; at least 30% for staff; 100% for teachers in especially difficult areas, border areas, islands, and ethnic minority areas.

In 2045, our country will celebrate 100 years of independence, unification and development. This is not only a historical milestone, but also the destination of a vision: Vietnam will become a developed, high-income, powerful, prosperous, happy country, standing shoulder to shoulder with the world powers. In that picture, education plays a key role.

An education system not only trains high-quality human resources, but also nurtures citizens with intelligence, humanity, and aspiration to contribute. Resolution 71 of the Politburo not only emphasizes “Education is the top national policy”, but also affirms that education determines the fate of the country and the future of the nation. Teachers are the center of that national policy and destiny.

Over the past eighty years, the image of the Vietnamese teacher has become a noble symbol. From the bamboo and thatched classrooms during the resistance war, to modern university lecture halls; from teachers in remote mountainous areas who spread knowledge in remote villages, to teachers who are pioneers in online teaching in the digital age, all have contributed to enriching the knowledge and shaping the souls of generations of students.

Nowadays, in the context of globalization, digital transformation and international integration, the role of teachers is becoming more multifaceted and complex. They are not only knowledge transmitters, but also scientists and liberators, helping students broaden their horizons, develop critical thinking, creativity and global citizenship qualities. Teachers of the 2045 vision must be able to lead students further and be more steadfast in the face of social and technological changes.

An education system that reaches the top 20 in the world cannot stop at “being good at Math, Literature, and Foreign Languages”. Vietnamese students need to be equipped with problem-solving skills, collaboration, creativity, empathy, and social responsibility. To do this, no machine can replace the heart and mind of a teacher.

If knowledge is the door, then the teacher is the one who opens that door for students to enter the vast world. If personality is the root, then the teacher is the one who waters it so that the root can grow and stand firm against the storms of life. Therefore, in the vision of 2045, the teacher must first be the one who "teaches people", then "teaches letters", and "teaches creativity", so that every Vietnamese student is both talented and humane, full of love and aspiration to contribute.

Awarding ceremony of "Outstanding Young Teacher of Ho Chi Minh City" in 2024. Photo: VNUHCM

The key to improving the teaching profession

To have good students, you must have good teachers. To have good teachers, it is necessary to fundamentally reform the training and treatment work. For many decades, teacher training colleges have mainly focused on training "teachers", not really becoming centers of educational research and innovation. But the 2045 vision requires the pedagogical sector to change: not only training knowledge, but also training technological capacity, foreign languages, research and international cooperation.

In addition, the treatment of teachers needs to be raised to a new level. Salaries, allowances and working environment must be sufficient for teachers to feel secure in their dedication, so that teaching becomes a profession that is respected by society and that the younger generation aspires to pursue. The social status of teachers needs to be built not only by words of gratitude, but also by practical and fair policies.

A civilized society is one that respects and places teachers in their proper position. Because when the teaching profession is honored, only the best talents will choose to stick with the podium, and from there, the quality of education will truly make a breakthrough.

As artificial intelligence (AI) increasingly penetrates into life, some people worry that the role of teachers will be replaced. But reality shows: Technology can teach knowledge, but cannot inspire, cannot teach how to be a human. Teachers of 2045 will not confront technology, but know how to master technology to become "digital guides".

They will use AI to personalize learning paths for each student, detect inclinations, and support the development of strengths. But above all, they will be the ones to sow the seeds of emotions, shape personalities, and teach students to live humanely in a cold technological world. This is the big difference: AI can create a “smart student,” but only a teacher can create a complete person.

Students participating in the 31st Student Mathematics Olympiad.

Global mission and social responsibility

Bringing Vietnamese education into the top 20 is not just a matter of improving PISA scores or international rankings. It is the aspiration for Vietnamese students to be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with friends from all over the world, for Vietnamese knowledge and personality to contribute to the progress of humanity.

And to do that, teachers also need to carry out a global mission. In the future, there will be many Vietnamese teachers participating in international education networks, collaborating on research and teaching exchanges. Excellent teachers not only train the young generation in the country, but also contribute to shaping the common educational trends and values ​​of humanity.

Teachers must also be role models of social responsibility. A good lecture can nurture knowledge, but it is the kind and humane actions of teachers that sow the seeds of goodness in the souls of students. A strong country cannot rely solely on intelligence, but must originate from morality and compassion passed on by teachers.

The road to a top 20 education system in the world is long and arduous, requiring strategy and political determination. But one thing is certain: all reforms, innovations and technologies must revolve around teachers.

If the country has tens of thousands, millions of talented, dedicated, and humane teachers, we will have millions of students confidently stepping out into the world, carrying Vietnamese intelligence and Vietnamese soul. And by 2045, when the country celebrates a century of independence, we can proudly say: It is the teachers who have created an education system worthy of being in the top 20 in the world.

Lecturers from the International University (Ho Chi Minh City National University) introduce the university learning environment to high school students. Photo: Le Nam

Teachers, though simple and quiet, are still the core that brings Vietnam to the sky of intelligence, humanity and power.

Celebrating Vietnamese Teachers' Day this year has a special meaning. The whole country is implementing the Law on Teachers and Resolution No. 71 of the Politburo, and at the same time entering the first school year of a new era - an era of striving and strong reform to bring education on par with the world. The spirit of innovation is spreading in every classroom, every lecture hall, in the beliefs and aspirations of teachers nationwide.

However, in the Central and Northern regions, natural disasters have been falling one after another. Violent storms and flash floods have swept away many schools and learning facilities, causing many students to lose their loved ones. In the midst of such hardship, teachers and students in the flood-affected areas still struggle to stay in their classrooms, rebuild desks and chairs, dry books, and repair the wounds left by nature.

As the whole country remembers and pays tribute to teachers, we need to turn to the education sector at the center of the storm with many practical actions. And we need to be more grateful and cherish the teachers in schools that have not yet dried the smell of mud, where students have both lost and lacked everything. Because it is in such difficult places that the spirit of teachers, the love between teachers and students and the strength of Vietnamese education shine brighter than ever.

These are also the challenges that teachers must overcome on the journey to build an advanced, modern Vietnamese education system, reaching the top 20 in the world.

Resolution 71-NQ/TW of the Politburo sets the goal that by 2045, Vietnam will have a modern, equitable and high-quality national education system, ranked among the top 20 countries in the world. All people will have the opportunity to learn throughout their lives, improve their qualifications, skills and develop their personal potential to the fullest.

High-quality human resources, scientific and technological talents become the driving force and core competitive advantage of the country, contributing to making Vietnam a developed, high-income country. Strive for at least 5 higher education institutions to be among the top 100 universities in the world in a number of fields according to prestigious international rankings.

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/dua-giao-duc-viet-nam-vao-top-20-the-gioi-nguoi-thay-dong-luc-hat-nhan-post756986.html