Online Opening Ceremony: A Mark of Innovation in the Age of Rising

GD&TĐ - The 2025-2026 school year opened with a nationwide online opening ceremony, connecting millions of students from Lung Cu (Tuyen Quang) to Dat Mui (Ca Mau) with the Central bridge and the participation of Party and State leaders.

The new form not only ensures solemnity and wide dissemination, but also arouses the desire for change in education , promotes schools and teachers to proactively transform digitally, and adds motivation to students' learning.

The joy of teachers and students across the country

The 2025-2026 school year also has a special meaning as it is associated with the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Ministry of National Education. This is an opportunity for teachers and students in the highlands to join the joy of the whole country in the solemn moment at the beginning of the school year. To further motivate disadvantaged students, the People's Committee of Tuy Phuoc commune also coordinated with many organizations and units to present hundreds of gifts. The Quy Nhon Association sent 42 gifts including cash and necessities, while Agribank Tuy Phuoc donated 180 gifts, worth VND500,000 each, to poor students who have overcome difficulties. "Hopefully, these gifts will help the students have more things to do when entering the new school year, giving them more determination to rise up," Mr. Thuan shared.

After the summer vacation, thousands of students in Hung Yen province eagerly await the opening day of the new school year. The atmosphere of preparation is bustling throughout the schools, from decorating the schoolyard, making the classrooms spacious and clean to practicing the performances... everything is ready for the festival of the entire education sector.

Mr. Nguyen Van Chien - teacher in charge of the Team, Thuy Phong Primary School (Nam Thuy Anh, Hung Yen), said: "This year's opening ceremony has great significance as it is associated with 80 years of tradition of the Vietnamese Education sector. Students are immersed in the opening ceremony atmosphere with millions of friends across the country, performing the ceremony and singing the National Anthem. We hope that the students feel that the opening ceremony is truly a festival, to love their school and class more."

Mr. Nguyen Van Chanh - Principal of Thuy Phong Primary School, said that since mid-August, the school has made detailed plans, assigning tasks to each teacher and group, from decorating the school yard, rehearsing performances to repairing facilities. "This year, the opening ceremony will be held directly in the school yard and connected online with other locations nationwide. This will definitely be a profound and different memory for teachers and students," said Mr. Chanh.

Evaluating the new organization, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Minh - Director of Phu Cu Vocational Education and Continuing Education Center (Hung Yen), commented: "This year's opening ceremony is special when the entire education sector is united in a nationwide live and online program. This is an innovative form, both maintaining solemnity and traditional meaning, and spreading strongly. We have carefully prepared from facilities, transmission lines to scripts, so that the ceremony takes place safely, solemnly and leaves a good impression."

In the days leading up to the opening ceremony, Dak Ro Ong Kindergarten (Dak To Kan, Quang Ngai) became more bustling than usual. Teacher Do Thi Lan Huong was busy preparing the red flag with yellow star and traditional costumes for 28 4-year-old children. In that bustling atmosphere, teachers and students were looking forward to the opening ceremony to show off their colors and join in the joy of the festival of the whole industry. "This year, the opening ceremony is innovative, teachers and students are all excited. We also picked a few wild flowers to send joy to friends everywhere," Ms. Huong shared.

In a small house, Y Kieu Phuong (5 years old, Dak To Kan commune, Quang Ngai) caressed her traditional dress and carefully put it away in the closet. She innocently said: “I asked my mother to wash it so that I can wear it beautifully on the first day of school. I am really looking forward to wearing new clothes and meeting my teachers and friends.”

The atmosphere of preparation was also bustling at Be Van Dan Primary School (Po Y Commune, Quang Ngai). Teachers and students decorated the classroom, arranged the school yard and tested the transmission line for the online ceremony. Since mid-August, students have returned to school, especially first graders participating in "2 weeks 0" - a period of time to get acquainted with teachers, friends, rules and new learning routines. They also practiced singing the national anthem and saluting the flag so as not to feel overwhelmed on the official opening day.

Mr. Nguyen Van Dai - Principal of the school, said that the opening ceremony will be held in a short time of about 40 minutes, but there will still be performances and games to create a close and joyful atmosphere. He emotionally recalled: “During Covid-19, we used to open the school year online, only limited to each class through a small screen. This time is different, teachers and students are much more excited because we are connecting with millions of students across the country, and hearing the wishes of General Secretary To Lam. That atmosphere is so sacred.”

The joy of the opening of the school year is not only in Quang Ngai. In Gia Lai, many localities are also busy preparing. Tuy Phuoc Commune People's Committee has directed 18 schools from kindergarten to secondary school, with more than 13,000 students, to clean up classrooms, decorate and check the transmission lines to prepare for the special opening ceremony.

Mr. Thai Van Thuan - Vice Chairman of Tuy Phuoc Commune People's Committee, said: "During the time frame of 7-8 am on September 5, schools will organize separate activities to meet and share with students and parents. From 8-9:30 am, the national opening ceremony will be broadcast live. We have prepared TVs, projectors and technical transmission lines so that the ceremony can take place smoothly and be filled with joy."

Teacher Le Thi Ly Kho with students. Photo: NVCC

Feelings of pride in the southernmost part of the country

In late August, schools in Ca Mau province were busy preparing for the opening ceremony of the 2025-2026 school year. From remote areas to the city center, teachers and students were busy cleaning, decorating, checking facilities and transmission lines to prepare for an innovative opening ceremony, associated with the 80th anniversary of the Education sector.

At Vien An High School (Dat Mui, Ca Mau), the facilities are still limited, making it difficult for many students to get to school. Mr. Bui Phuc Xuan - Vice Principal in charge of the school, said: "In the past few days, the staff and teachers have been urgently arranging the landscape, cleaning the environment and preparing the necessary conditions for the opening ceremony.

This year, the school enrolls more than 1,000 students, we have notified each parent and student to attend. Even students traveling by boat are given the opportunity to attend the opening ceremony. Regarding facilities, the school takes advantage of existing equipment, choosing a suitable network provider to ensure a stable connection, helping staff, teachers and students fully follow the content of the ceremony.

Meanwhile, Cai Nuoc High School (Cai Nuoc, Ca Mau) with more than 2,300 students and 54 classes has also made careful preparations. Principal Ngo Thanh Vu said: “The opening ceremony will take place on campus, with all staff, teachers and students attending. Before entering the online program of the Ministry of Education and Training, the school will hold a welcoming ceremony for 10th grade students. We have arranged 4 large-screen TVs, a sound system and full Internet. If the weather is bad, students will attend the ceremony in each classroom with a TV connected to the Internet, ensuring convenience and continuity.”

A similar atmosphere also took place at Phong Phu B Primary School (Lang Tron Ward). Principal Nguyen Phuc Long shared: “This year’s opening ceremony is truly special, in the context of the country’s innovation, operating a two-level government model. The school community is very excited, making every effort to prepare all conditions for staff, teachers and students to directly listen to the General Secretary’s speech and opening drumbeat.”

At Vo Thi Sau Secondary School (Bac Lieu Ward, Ca Mau), Mr. Ho Thanh Tung, a young teacher, expressed: “The combined form of opening ceremony in person and online shows modernity and synchronization, helping teachers and students across the country to join in the industry-wide festival. For me, this is an opportunity to connect spirits and unite millions of hearts for the cause of educating people. I will constantly innovate and apply technology to teaching to inspire students' passion for learning.”

Teachers and students of Be Van Dan Primary School (Po Y, Quang Ngai). Photo: Dung Nguyen

Prepare carefully

In the memories of many generations, the opening ceremony is always associated with the school yard filled with flags and flowers, the sound of drums and the eager eyes of students. This year, that familiar image has a new look as millions of students across the country join in the opening ceremony atmosphere through online screens, with the participation of Party and State leaders.

“The students were very happy and excited because this was not just a ceremony in the familiar schoolyard, but also a moment when millions of students across the country shared the joy of welcoming the new school year. The feeling of ‘meeting’ the leaders of the Party and State on the opening day made the students feel cared for and accompanied, thereby giving them more motivation to study,” said Ms. Le Thi Ly Kho, a teacher at Dong Khoi Secondary School (Phu Thanh, Ho Chi Minh City).

According to Ms. Kho, the biggest difference of this format is the spirit of connection. “No matter where they are, students clearly feel that they are entering a new school year with millions of friends. The new format not only opens the door to connection, but also shows that education is always at the center of social concern,” she said.

According to many teachers, the online opening ceremony has gone beyond traditional rituals to foster a spirit of solidarity, helping students realize that they are part of a large learning community. For teachers, this is also a reminder of the responsibility to accompany innovation, so that each teaching hour contributes to realizing the aspiration of national development. “In the context of the country after the merger is growing strongly, I hope students will realize the great lesson: Integration and innovation are not only policies, but also become the journey of the whole nation and today's students are the ones following in their footsteps,” Ms. Kho emphasized.

A representative of the Board of Directors of Dong Khoi Secondary School said that in terms of facilities, the school has thoroughly checked the transmission system, projection equipment, sound and images many times. At the same time, the school also prepared LED screens to create a lively space, helping students to watch the ceremony more visually and excitedly. Homeroom teachers were trained to guide students to participate in accordance with regulations, and parents were informed to closely coordinate with the school.

“We want students to be prepared and understand that this is a major national event, and each of them is an important part of it. Students will clearly feel their pride and responsibility; teachers will feel respected and supported, and the whole society will join hands to nurture future generations,” the school representative emphasized.

The most profound meaning of the online opening ceremony, according to Ms. Kho, is the connection in educational innovation. A ceremony with the participation of Party and State leaders and all students nationwide not only encourages the spirit, but also affirms: Education is the top priority, the sustainable foundation for the country's development.

The excitement about the innovative opening ceremony also spread to each student. Nguyen Truc Anh - a student at Ho Thi Ky High School (An Xuyen, Ca Mau), expressed: "I really look forward to the opening day to meet teachers and friends and witness the special opening ceremony. This year, students will hear the Minister read a speech, and listen to the speech and the drumbeat of the opening ceremony from the Party leaders via live television. This is unprecedented, creating more motivation for us to strive to study better."

In many localities, preparations have been carried out synchronously, ensuring that the festival for the whole industry is more solemn, meaningful and safe. In Hung Yen, Ms. Ha Thi Thu Phuong - Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training, said that the department has issued an official dispatch guiding schools and educational centers to organize the opening ceremony in conjunction with the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the Ministry of National Education (now the Ministry of Education and Training). According to the plan, all educational institutions in the province will open at the same time as the program held at the National Convention Center, through online connection or watching live on VTV1 channel.

Schools are required to prepare adequate facilities and technical transmission lines; perform the flag-raising ceremony and sing the national anthem at the same time as the central connection point. At the same time, each unit must have a response plan in case of adverse weather conditions, ensuring traffic safety, power grid, security and order throughout the organization process.

“The opening ceremony of the 2025-2026 school year has a special meaning, associated with 80 years of tradition in the education sector. This is an opportunity for the whole sector to look back on the journey of building and developing Vietnam’s education, while demonstrating the spirit of integration, modernity, and solidarity of the whole sector,” Ms. Phuong emphasized.

In Ca Mau, the Department of Education and Training has issued a document requesting educational institutions to organize the opening ceremony of the new school year in conjunction with the 80th anniversary of the Ministry of Education and Training. Accordingly, the opening ceremony is organized solemnly, meaningfully, practically but economically, creating a widespread impact throughout the industry and society.

Mr. Le Hoang Du - Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training of Ca Mau, said that the local education sector has fully prepared facilities, equipment and transmission lines for online connection; at the same time, it has built feasible backup plans in case of power outages or bad weather. Special attention is paid to ensuring traffic safety, security and order, and fire prevention.

“The activities organized by educational institutions will be short and end before 8:00 a.m. From 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., all delegates, teachers, and students will fully participate in the program organized by the Ministry of Education and Training,” Mr. Du emphasized.

Meritorious Teacher Chu Xuan Thanh - former Head of Secondary Education Department, Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, emphasized: "The country is entering a new era, not only in merging and streamlining the apparatus but also in renewing thinking. Today's generations of students are not simply the continuation of knowledge, but also the intellectual and spiritual resources, carrying within them the mission of contributing to the creation of a strong, civilized and integrated Vietnam."

According to Mr. Thanh, to awaken that aspiration, the education team - from teachers to administrators - must take the lead in self-renewal. "Only when teachers change and know how to inspire can they ignite the fire of creativity and the desire to contribute in the younger generation," he said.

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/khai-giang-truc-tuyen-dau-an-doi-moi-trong-ky-nguyen-vuon-minh-post747109.html