Associate Professor, Dr. Dang Quoc Thong: A teacher who spends his life doing the best for children

That is the simple but passionate sharing of Associate Professor, Doctor, Meritorious Teacher Dang Quoc Thong - Chairman of the Board of Doan Thi Diem Secondary School, who has been involved in education for more than half a century, always taking students as the center of all thoughts and actions.

From the battlefield to the classroom - the journey of a devoted teacher

Born in 1946 in Khuc Thuy (Thanh Oai, Hanoi), Mr. Dang Quoc Thong was a youth volunteer to build the mountainous economy at the call of the Party.

In 1968, after returning to Hanoi , he studied Electrical Systems at Hanoi University of Science and Technology (now Hanoi University of Science and Technology).

When the resistance war against the US entered its fiercest phase, he temporarily put aside his studies to join the army, joining the 16th Artillery Brigade - Artillery Command, fighting on the battlefield of Thua Thien - Hue.

Associate Professor, Dr. Dang Quoc Thong and the Board of Directors of Doan Thi Diem Secondary School were honored to receive the Second Class Labor Medal for the School in 2025.

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan presented the Second Class Labor Medal to Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Doan Thi Diem Secondary School.

After the reunification, he returned to continue studying and teaching at Hanoi University of Science and Technology. From a young lecturer, he became Deputy Head of the Department of Electrical Systems, Faculty of Electrical Engineering - where he contributed to training thousands of engineers, masters, and doctors for the country.

With his great contributions, he was awarded the Resistance Medal (1985), the Third Class Labor Medal and the title of Excellent Teacher (2008), along with the title "Outstanding Innovative Manager of the Capital" in 2012.

Master Dang Quoc Thong passed on the proud symbol of Doan Thi Diem to the future generation at the 20th Anniversary of Doan Thi Diem Secondary School.

Passion for the young generation - the flame that never goes out at the age of 80

After retiring from the University of Technology, his love for education still urged him to continue to contribute. He took on the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors and Principal of Doan Thi Diem Secondary School - the school he devoted more than 20 years to building.
With the philosophy of “school must be a big family”, he always considers each student as his child, each teacher as his relative. From the curriculum, experiential activities, to every corner of the yard, roof, classroom, he takes meticulous care to create a safe, humane and happy educational environment.

Assoc. Prof. Dang Quoc Thong and teachers of Doan Thi Diem welcome students back to school for the 2025-2026 school year.

Students expressed their love and gratitude to the President through flowers and congratulations to him - a veteran of the old battlefield on the occasion of the Vietnam People's Army Day December 22.

He believes: “Children must be allowed to play, be playful, and be creative. Teachers should not forbid but must know how to guide and develop their children’s abilities.”
Because of that, at Doan Thi Diem, students always feel close, respected and develop comprehensively in the love of teachers.

To teachers, Mr. Dang Quoc Thong always reminds: "Education must be done with love, not with scolding." He believes that only when adults give love, students can feel tolerance and kindness - the foundation for forming good personalities.

In the teaching staff, he advocates building a culture of solidarity, respect, and mutual support like family members, sharing difficulties and working towards a common goal - for the sake of beloved students.

President Dang Quoc Thong awarded the "Fostering Talent" scholarship to outstanding students entering grade 6 in the 2025-2026 school year.

Every school year, he inspires his enthusiasm to generations of teachers and students of Doan Thi Diem through the resounding and heroic sound of the school drum.

Building Doan Thi Diem educational brand: From heart to vision

From 5 classes with 145 students in the first year of establishment (2005), Doan Thi Diem Secondary School has now developed into one of the leading high-quality educational models in the capital, with 119 classes and more than 3,400 students.

Under the guidance of Mr. Thong, the school continuously innovates and expands training types such as Math - English, Literature - English, Cambridge Bilingual, High Quality, and foreign language enhancement programs Japanese - English, Chinese - English, Math - IT, international bilingual.

After nearly two decades of development, more than 35,000 students have graduated from this school, thousands of students have won national and international awards, many students have been admitted to top specialized high schools such as Amsterdam, Foreign Language High School, Pedagogy High School,...

Mr. Dang Quoc Thong at the cooperation signing ceremony between Doan Thi Diem Secondary School and Japan Aviation Academy in 2024, opening up many opportunities to study and work in Japan for the school's students.

The school has continuously received Certificates of Merit from the Prime Minister (2013), Third-class Labor Medal (2018), Excellent Emulation Flag from the Government (2023) and Second-class Labor Medal (2024) - worthy rewards for the unceasing efforts of the teachers and students of Doan Thi Diem.

But for Mr. Dang Quoc Thong, the happiest thing is not the medals, but the bright eyes of his students every morning when they come to school, the hugs and the cheerful greetings of his beloved students. “Just seeing my students healthy, happy and grown up, I feel all the hard work is worth it,” he said.

Vision for the future - continuing to do what's best for our children

At the age of nearly 80, the teacher is still working hard on new plans for the Doan Thi Diem education system. He wishes to apply advanced educational models in the world, harmoniously combining modernity and Vietnamese identity, so that students can study in a creative, humane and integrated environment.

From a soldier, a scientist to an education administrator, Mr. Dang Quoc Thong still keeps his simple oath in life: "Do the best for children." It is that love that has created an education system where every day at school is a happy day - for teachers, for students and for parents who trust in sending their children to school.

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/pgstsngut-dang-quoc-thong-nguoi-thay-suot-doi-lam-dieu-tot-nhat-cho-tre-post755184.html