Focus on building a learning society

A delegation of experts from the Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs conducted a field survey of the learning society model at the Quang Ninh Provincial Library.

Building a learning society is not just a slogan but an objective and vital requirement in the current context. A true learning society is where every citizen has the opportunity to learn for life, improve their qualifications and skills to adapt to the rapid changes in science, technology and the labor market. Resolution No. 29-NQ/TW (November 4, 2013) of the 11th Central Executive Committee set the goal: "Building a learning society, creating opportunities and conditions for everyone to learn for life". Next, important conclusions and directives such as Conclusion No. 49-KL/TW, Directive No. 11-CT/TW, Directive No. 29-CT/TW in 2024 of the Politburo affirmed the urgent need to maintain and improve the quality of universal education, eliminate illiteracy, especially for adults in difficult areas, remote areas, ethnic minorities. Thus, building a learning society is not simply a cultural and intellectual aspiration, but has become a clear, specific, and consistent political requirement in the Central Government's guiding documents.

Quang Ninh is making efforts to transform its growth model, from "brown" to "green", from extractive industry to tourism, high-quality services and knowledge-based economic sectors, in which high-quality human resources with the ability to learn and be creative are the "key" factors. However, with the characteristics of a province with a large and complex terrain, with many mountainous and island localities, home to a large number of ethnic minorities, the task of eliminating illiteracy and improving people's knowledge becomes even more urgent.

According to the report of the Department of Education and Training, although in 2022, the province was recognized by the Ministry of Education and Training as having achieved level 2 literacy standards, this result is still unsustainable. By 2024, the whole province still has 3,815 people who have not met the literacy standards, of which 1,424 people have not met the level 1 standards. That number is not only an educational challenge but also an indicator of the fragile boundary between maintaining the achieved results and the risk of widespread illiteracy, especially in remote areas such as Binh Lieu, Tien Yen, Ba Che, Co To - where economic conditions are difficult, the rate of ethnic minorities is high and access to education is limited...

In that context, the issuance of regulations clearly defining the content and expenditure levels for the task of building a learning society and supporting people to participate in literacy training is an urgent requirement. The draft Resolution regulating the content and expenditure levels for implementing the Project "Building a learning society in the period 2021-2030" and supporting people to participate in literacy training in Quang Ninh province was developed and discussed at the 29th Session of the 14th Provincial People's Council as the "solution to the problem" of creating a solid legal framework and transparent financial resources to effectively implement the construction of a learning society. The issued Resolution will create synchronization, inherit and develop existing policies, creating a solid system for this important work.

One of the highlights of the draft Resolution is the detailed regulation of the contents and expenditure levels, demonstrating transparency and responsibility in state budget management. Specifically, the level of support for night lighting for semi-boarding literacy classes is 200,000 VND/class/month, a maximum of 13 months for phase 1 and 12 months for phase 2. The level of expenditure for purchasing learning materials for the class does not exceed 250,000 VND/class/phase.

Students who complete the literacy program will receive direct support of VND500,000/person/phase. The draft resolution also stipulates support for food, accommodation, and travel expenses for volunteers who teach literacy classes, and those who participate in propaganda and student mobilization with a support level of VND200,000/person, demonstrating respect and encouragement for the community's contributions to the education cause.

The expenditure contents and expenditure levels are all built on the basis of actual surveys, referring to the guidance framework of the Ministry of Finance and the experience of many localities that have implemented it before, with high feasibility, ensuring consistency in public financial management and facilitating effective monitoring and evaluation.

The Provincial Association for Promotion of Education awarded scholarships to students who overcame difficulties and achieved good results in study and training on the occasion of organizing Lifelong Learning Week 2024.

Not only are these regulations financially reasonable, they are also deeply humane, demonstrating the province's genuine concern for learners in disadvantaged groups. The highlight and breakthrough of the draft Resolution is the level of direct support for people participating in literacy training. At 5 million VND/person/period, this is a significant amount of support, not only encouraging people aged 15-60, with permanent residence in Quang Ninh to participate in classes, but also helping them overcome "barriers" in living expenses during the learning process.

The support conditions are clearly defined, and students are entitled to funding after the educational institution confirms the completion of each stage of the literacy program. This policy is also of great significance in eliminating illiteracy and re-illiteracy, especially in remote, isolated, and disadvantaged areas. The application from 2025 to the end of 2030, along with flexible provisions for students who are studying in 2025, ensures the timeliness and effectiveness of the policy from this draft Resolution.

The resolution was passed to contribute to creating positive and profound changes in the process of building a learning society in Quang Ninh, contributing to maintaining and improving the results of illiteracy eradication and preventing re-illiteracy in a proactive manner; creating motivation and favorable conditions for people, especially ethnic minorities, the poor, and rural women, to access knowledge, develop themselves, and contribute to improving the quality of local human resources. Thereby, it also helps authorities at all levels have a solid legal basis to allocate, manage and use the budget effectively, openly and transparently.

Building a learning society is a long-term strategy, requiring sustained investment, synchronous participation of the entire political system and especially consistent and specific public policies. The issuance of a resolution stipulating the content and spending levels for the task of building a learning society and supporting people to participate in eliminating illiteracy is a practical action to institutionalize the Party's policy, realizing political commitments into specific benefits for the people. Quang Ninh continues to affirm its position as one of the leading localities in the country in socio-economic development, in which education and training are a solid foundation.

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