Vietnamese education affirms its position through achievements in regional and international Olympics

Permanent Deputy Minister Pham Ngoc Thuong chaired the conference.

More than 360 Olympic medals – the mark of ten years of nurturing excellent Vietnamese students

Reporting at the conference, Mr. Huynh Van Chuong - Director of the Department of Quality Management said: In the period of 2016-2025, the organization of national excellent student selection exams, training and coaching teams for regional and international Olympic competitions has achieved many outstanding results, affirming the efforts of the entire education sector in discovering, training and promoting talents. The Ministry of Education and Training always identifies this as a key task, associated with the strategy of developing high-quality human resources to serve the industrialization and modernization of the country.

According to the Director, in the past 10 years, Vietnamese teams participating in regional and international Olympics have won a total of 362 medals, including 112 gold medals, 140 silver medals, 89 bronze medals and 21 certificates of merit, an increase of 48 medals compared to the period 2006-2015. The achievements of Vietnamese national teams participating in international and regional Olympics have continuously changed and improved, with each year being higher than the previous year. For many consecutive years, Vietnam has been in the top 10 countries with the best achievements in the Olympiads of Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Informatics.

Notably, in 2018, student Nguyen Phuong Thao achieved the highest score in the world at the International Biology Olympiad; in 2020, Ngo Quy Dang (Mathematics) and Vo Hoang Hai (Physics, 2022) both won Gold Medals when they were in 10th grade - proving the great potential of Vietnamese students.

The results of some subjects requiring very high practical skills such as Physics, Chemistry, and Biology continue to have outstanding achievements and have been maintained for many years, which has been an inspiration and motivation for generations of students in pursuing their passion for this science subject; thereby, helping to promote STEM and AI education for Vietnamese students.

The work of directing, organizing exams and training is carried out seriously and comprehensively. The Ministry of Education and Training has coordinated with research institutes, universities and academies to improve the quality of exam questions, approaching the content and format of the International Olympics. The work of creating questions, invigilation, grading and confidentiality is strictly and objectively ensured, accurately assessing students' abilities. Every year, the selection and training of the national team is carried out systematically, publicly, transparently, with testing, evaluation and healthy competition, creating motivation for students to strive.

Along with that, the reward policy, direct admission to universities and forms of encouragement from the central to local levels have contributed to encouraging the movement of studying and scientific research among students. Some localities such as Hai Phong, Bac Ninh, Quang Ninh awarded from 500 to 700 million VND to students winning international Gold Medals. In the period of 2021-2024, the Party and State awarded 2 First-class Labor Medals, 34 Second-class Medals, 36 Third-class Medals and many Certificates of Merit from the Prime Minister to collectives and individuals with outstanding achievements.

The results of the annual national examinations for excellent students and regional and international Olympic competitions have had a strong impact on the emulation movement of good teaching and good learning in general schools, especially specialized high schools.

Mr. Huynh Van Chuong - Director of the Department of Quality Management reported at the conference.

There will be a national strategic project on discovering, training and using young talents.

According to Mr. Huynh Van Chuong, this success is the result of the correct leadership of the Party and State, the close direction of the Ministry of Education and Training, the dedication of teachers, the efforts of students and the companionship of parents.

Based on the practice of the 2016-2025 period, the Department of Quality Management determined that in the coming time, it will continue to maintain and modernize the work of fostering excellent students, deeply integrate with the international community, and at the same time implement the National Strategy Project on discovering, training and using young talents, creating a breakthrough mechanism to retain and promote talented people, contributing to the sustainable development of the country in the new "era of rising up" of the nation.

Speaking at the conference, Permanent Deputy Minister Pham Ngoc Thuong affirmed the special attention and care of the Party and State for education and training, for the young generation. Recently, with the promulgation of Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW, education and training have been given more comprehensive and profound care. Inheriting Resolution No. 29-NQ/TW, Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW affirms that "education and training are the top national policy, deciding the future of the nation", with groups of long-term, breakthrough solutions, highly actionable and comprehensive care for all levels of education.

On September 15, 2025, the Government issued the Action Program to implement Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW (Resolution No. 281/NQ-CP); in which the Ministry of Education and Training was assigned to preside over a very important task: Building a Project to discover and nurture young Vietnamese talents. The Deputy Minister emphasized that today's summary conference, with its assessment of the results achieved; the remaining limitations, shortcomings and causes; and lessons learned in the work of discovering, training, and nurturing teams to compete in regional and international Olympic competitions, is an important channel to build this Project.

Recalling the proud results of Vietnamese students in regional and international Olympic competitions, especially in the 2016-2025 period, congratulating and praising the achievements of the teams, the Deputy Minister said that this is a great source of pride, not only for the students, but also for their families, schools, teachers and the country.

Permanent Deputy Minister Pham Ngoc Thuong spoke at the conference.

According to the Deputy Minister, there are 8 basic factors to achieve such high results. First, the quality of education, from kindergarten to high school, has had outstanding results and much progress. Second, the intelligence and efforts of the students. Third, the increasing attention and investment of the Party, the State, families, teachers... in education in general, and key education in particular. Fourth, the students are discovered early, nurtured, and trained systematically, scientifically, and thoroughly.

Fifth, the organization of competitions for excellent students from the grassroots to the national level, and the selection of Olympic teams must be very public, transparent, with the right people, the right subjects, and the right abilities. Sixth, the team of teachers and experts has more and more experience in training and nurturing excellent students with intelligence and methods on par with international standards. Some experts even train international students. Seventh, the policies and attention of localities for award-winning students and teachers training award-winning students have made more breakthroughs. Finally, the overall and synchronous attention of families, schools, and society for this work.

The Deputy Minister also acknowledged, praised and expressed gratitude for the contributions of families, schools, teachers and experts accompanying the students in the team. Citing the saying "the glory of a teacher is the incarnation of the success of students" to emphasize the great but silent contributions of teachers, the Deputy Minister suggested having accurate assessments of these contributions, and at the same time continuing to research policies, not only on remuneration but also on training and fostering, to have a better quality team of teachers and experts.

In the coming time, with Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW, the work of discovering, nurturing, caring for and training talented people and gifted students will be more favorable. Gifted students are the "red seeds" for high-quality human resources and talents of the country in different fields. With the important task of researching strategies to discover, nurture, use and reward young talents with breakthrough mechanisms and policies, the Deputy Minister emphasized the need to draw lessons and good practices to further promote the effectiveness and results of key educational work in the coming time. Especially early detection; care and nurturing; training; public and transparent exam organization; exam methods and exam questions updated with international standards...

The Deputy Minister also noted that gifted students must be educated comprehensively, not just good at one subject or specialized subject; at the same time, they must have good health both physically and mentally; nurture gratitude, patriotism, and a sense of responsibility, so that no matter where they go or what they do, they will always turn towards the Fatherland, contributing to building a strong country.

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/giao-duc-viet-nam-khang-dinh-vi-the-qua-thanh-tich-olympic-khu-vuc-quoc-te-post755732.html