Comments on the draft documents of the 14th National Congress: Education and Training - The central driving force in the national development strategy

(NLDO)- The draft Political Report submitted to the 14th National Party Congress is a document with strategic vision, reflecting a strong shift in development thinking.

Among the three identified breakthroughs - institutions, human resources and infrastructure - education and training (ET) is placed at the center, both as a driving force and a foundation for sustainable development. This time, EET is no longer separate but has been integrated and closely linked with other contents of the Draft - from science and technology development, innovation, to human development, culture and cadre work in the Party.

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A small but noteworthy detail is that the use of some specialized educational terms in the Draft needs to be more precise. For example, the phrase "bringing digital competence into the general education program" is not really reasonable in terms of pedagogy, because "digital competence" is an outcome that needs to be formed in learners, not content that can be "brought in". A more correct way to say it is "developing digital competence for students in the general education program". Such technical points, although small, if they are revised to be correct in meaning and accompanied by an Appendix explaining the terms in a unified way, will help the document to be clear, easy to understand, convenient, and save more time explaining when disseminating the Resolution later.

The first breakthrough point of the Draft is the clearly established thinking of "open education, lifelong learning". If previous Congresses mainly talked about universalization and expansion, this time it emphasizes flexibility, connectivity and lifelong learning opportunities for all people. This is a modern approach, considering learning not only as a stage of life but also as a national competitiveness in the knowledge era.

Another point of progress is the connection between education and training and science - technology , innovation. The draft identifies research-oriented universities as centers of science - technology and innovation, contributing to the formation of regional and industry creative ecosystems. Schools are not only places to impart knowledge but also places to create knowledge and innovation capacity. Training human resources for key fields such as artificial intelligence, semiconductor technology, and new energy shows a vision towards the future, linking education with the country's strategic industries.

The draft also demonstrates a comprehensive view of high-quality human resource development, considering education and training as the foundation, not just a link in the policy chain. Orientations on cooperation between educational institutions, research institutes and businesses, or developing a team of scientists and leading experts show efforts to form a human resource - knowledge - technology ecosystem. This is an integrated mindset between education - science - knowledge economy , in line with the trend of sustainable development.

A humane highlight in the Draft is to ensure fairness in access to education, especially in the context of a market economy. Universalizing preschool education, two-session schooling per day, and prioritizing investment in mountainous, island, and ethnic minority areas not only has social significance but also has strategic significance in terms of human resources. Along with expanding international cooperation, attracting international experts, lecturers, and students, Vietnamese education is being placed in the global learning network - a big step forward in integration.

The draft also makes an important step forward in integrating education and training into other development areas. In the science and technology section, education is considered the foundation for forming creative capacity; in the human and cultural development section, education and training is the central tool for fostering the qualities, capacities and mettle of modern Vietnamese citizens; in the Party building section, training and fostering of cadres is placed in parallel with talent development and innovation in content and methods for updating theoretical knowledge and state management. This approach demonstrates the thinking of linkage - integration - interdisciplinary, considering education as the soft infrastructure of the nation.

Notably, the policy of developing digital and foreign language competencies in education and training is a strategic step. Moving towards English as a second language and popularizing digital competencies for students is the foundation for Vietnam to deeply integrate into the global economy and digital transformation. If implemented effectively, this will be an important driving force to help Vietnam rise in the global knowledge value chain.

In particular, the Draft has highlighted the role of teachers and scientists, considering this a decisive factor for the success of all reforms. The policy of valuing talents, improving treatment, and creating career development opportunities for educators is the right direction, demonstrating the view that to have a strong education system, there must be a team with enough capacity, dedication, and conditions to contribute.

However, to make the Political Report more complete, some further directions need to be clarified:

Firstly , human resource development must be linked to the management and effective use of human resources, especially in the public sector. It is necessary to emphasize the long-term vision in the public service human resource strategy, ensuring the succession, rejuvenation and professionalization of the staff, civil servants and public employees.

Second, it is necessary to more clearly demonstrate the orientation of connecting education and training with the needs of socio-economic development and the labor market, so that training is closer to the requirements of the knowledge economy.

Third, we should more strongly affirm the organic relationship between educational innovation and national governance innovation, because only when the apparatus and people innovate together can education truly become the endogenous driving force of development.

In short, the Draft Political Report this time has demonstrated the comprehensive human development mindset, considering education as the foundation of culture, science, economy and national governance. This is an important step forward, in line with the global trend and the aspiration to develop a strong and prosperous Vietnam in the middle of the 21st century.

Education and training, after all, is not just an industry, but a field. covering the development of Vietnamese people in the 21st century. When the mindset of "lifelong learning - capacity development - knowledge management" becomes a consistent flow in all fields, it will be a guarantee for the sustainable, self-reliant and humane development of the nation in the new period.

Dr. Hoang Ngoc Vinh

Former Director of the Department of Vocational Education, Ministry of Education and Training

Source: https://nld.com.vn/gop-y-du-thao-van-kien-dai-hoi-xiv-gd-dt-dong-luc-trung-tam-trong-chien-luoc-phat-trien-quoc-gia-196251110114038135.htm