A close-knit minister
Without being formal, the late Minister of Education and Training, Tran Hong Quan, was very approachable to his subordinates, always respecting their opinions and listening attentively. This is how an official who worked under six different ministers described Professor Tran Hong Quan.
In 1994, I had to go to Minister Tran Hong Quan's office to get his signature. I had never met Professor Tran Hong Quan before, but I "dared" to go because without the signature of the then Minister of Education and Training, I couldn't defend my doctoral dissertation in October, after which I would go to Singapore to attend a short course on total quality management.
Professor Tran Hong Quan was a minister who was very close to his subordinates, always respecting their opinions and listening to them.
HO CHI MINH CITY UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
I assumed he would be annoyed, but I couldn't wait for my own matter, so I took a chance and met him. I waited outside his office because his secretary said he was only going home for lunch and to quickly sign some documents before returning to the National Assembly meeting in the afternoon. Luckily, around 12 o'clock, I saw him return. I briefly explained my request, and he asked why I didn't let the office staff present it. Despite saying that, he still signed it.
Last May, when I accompanied former Deputy Minister of Education and Training Tran Van Nhung on a visit to him, I reminded him of this story, and he chuckled, saying he didn't remember it happening.
A leading contributor to educational reform.
After his term as Minister of Education and Training ended, Professor Tran Hong Quan transferred to the Propaganda Department, and then retired. I had the opportunity to meet him again at conferences and seminars of the Association of Private Universities and Colleges, later the Association of Vietnamese Universities and Colleges. On those occasions, I saw him encouraging people to write papers, then directing the editing, selecting venues for seminars, arranging food and accommodation for attendees…
Besides our work-related meetings, I also had the opportunity to meet him at informal gatherings. These were part of a group of people interested in education in Ho Chi Minh City, which he led.
Professor Tran Hong Quan and his friends formed a group of people interested in education. The group, numbering nearly 30, included several high-ranking education administrators such as former Deputy Minister of Education and Training, Professor Nguyen Tan Phat; Dr. Vu Ngoc Hoang; Professor Luong Ngoc Toan; Professor Tran Xuan Nhi; some individuals with long experience in education such as Professor Ly Hoa, Professor Nguyen The Huu, Dr. Ho Thieu Hung, Dr. Huynh Cong Minh; some intellectuals knowledgeable about education such as Professor Pham Phu, Professor Ho Sy Thoang, Professor Nguyen Thien Tong, Professor Tran Huu Ta, Mr. Tran Chut; and some intellectuals who returned from abroad or worked for educational organizations overseas such as Dr. Tran Canh, Dr. Tran Xuan Thao…
I joined the group in 2015. At that time, my professor asked me to join because the group needed "young people" to help maintain the activities of this unnamed club. The group's activities are voluntary; everyone contributes financially. When there's an issue to discuss, Professor Tran Hong Quan and Professor Nguyen The Huu inform the whole group about the topic to be discussed.
Professor Tran Hong Quan has passed away, but he will forever remain in the hearts of generations of educators.
HO CHI MINH CITY UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
Professor Tran Hong Quan never fails to speak passionately about the country's education system whenever he has the opportunity. He was among the pioneers in educational reform since 1987 – the first conference in Nha Trang, which marked the beginning of this reform.
Now that the country's education system has developed, changes in the development of private education have achieved certain successes, and he was one of the pioneers, a steadfast follower of this because the quality of higher education is what he has cared about throughout his life.
We will no longer hear those heartfelt words, delivered in his hoarse voice and with a smile always on his face. Professor Tran Hong Quan has passed away, but he will forever remain in the hearts of generations of educators like us.
Source link
Comment (0)