Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh: Prioritize resources for education, absolutely do not let students lack schools

TPO - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested that in the new school year, it is necessary to focus on transforming the state from considering education and training as the private matter of the sector to the common task of the entire political system. More than ever, it is necessary to prioritize all resources for the development of education and training, absolutely not allowing students to lack schools, classes, teachers, food, and clothing.

Báo Tiền Phong•22/08/2025

On the afternoon of August 22nd, at the Government headquarters, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended and co-chaired the conference summarizing the 2024-2025 school year and outlining tasks for the 2025-2026 school year.

The conference was connected online to provinces and cities nationwide. Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long and Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son co-chaired the conference.

Human resources are the most important.

In his address, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized the long-standing fine traditions of our nation: a love of learning, respect for teachers, and considering "talented individuals as the lifeblood of the nation."

Our Party and State have always considered education and training as a top national priority, playing a particularly important role in forming and developing the personality and abilities of each individual.

"Human resources are the most important factor determining the success or failure of each nation. Education and training shape the 'morality, intellect, physical fitness, and aesthetics' of individuals, therefore playing a particularly important role in the rapid and sustainable development of the country," the Prime Minister said.

Teachers are a very noble figure; they are always respected and honored in society. Working in the field of education is a great honor and source of pride for everyone.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh delivered a directive speech at the conference on the afternoon of August 22. (Photo: Ministry of Education and Training)

The Prime Minister emphasized that, now more than ever, all resources must be prioritized for the development of education and training, creating truly open and favorable mechanisms and policies, modern and efficient infrastructure, and intelligent human resources and management.

Training effectiveness is not high.

On behalf of the Government, the Prime Minister acknowledged and highly appreciated the important results achieved by the entire education and training sector in the 2024-2025 school year, making a significant contribution to the overall achievements of the country. He noted that the Ministry of Education and Training should consider organizing the high school graduation exam earlier and adjusting the registration regulations for university admissions to be more reasonable.

In addition, the Prime Minister also pointed out the current limitations, difficulties, and challenges, including inadequate programs, fragmented scale, unbalanced sectors, low ethical standards, skill shortages, insufficient teachers, a lack of a comprehensive network, and passive funding.

The implementation of the 2018 General Education Program still faces shortcomings. Infrastructure and equipment remain inadequate.

While the scale of university-level training has increased, it remains concentrated in socio-economic fields, while basic sciences and engineering disciplines have not yet attracted many students; the training of highly skilled and high-quality human resources has not truly met the requirements.

The conference was connected online to provinces and cities nationwide.

Furthermore, the education of ideology, traditions, ethics, lifestyle, and life skills for children, students, and university students is still ineffective. School violence and drug use in schools still persist.

Another shortcoming is that the country is currently lacking approximately 102,097 teachers at all levels, while about 60,000 allocated positions remain unfilled. There is also a shortage of schools and classrooms, especially in remote areas, border regions, and islands.

We must absolutely not allow students to lack schools and classrooms.

According to the Prime Minister, in the coming period, the education sector faces the urgent need for innovation and breakthrough development, continuing to focus on effectively implementing the main guiding principle: "Putting students at the center, as the subjects - Teachers as the driving force - Schools as the support - Families as the foundation - Society as the basis."

Regarding the key tasks for the 2025-2026 academic year, it is necessary to focus on transforming the status quo, from viewing education and training as solely the responsibility of the sector to a shared responsibility of the entire political system, the whole population, and the whole society; shifting from equipping students with knowledge to developing their comprehensive competencies.

The Prime Minister emphasized the requirement that all citizens must have equal access to education, especially the disadvantaged, those in remote areas, ethnic minority regions, border areas, and islands.

We need to develop more advanced, modern, and practical curricula and teaching materials, emphasizing the integration of theory and practice, genuine learning, genuine testing, and genuine effectiveness. Teachers should motivate and inspire students. Families, society, and schools must be the foundation, support, and solid base for teachers and students; we must absolutely ensure that no student lacks schools, classrooms, teachers, food, or clothing.

Focus on addressing the shortage and surplus of teachers, ensuring the principle of "where there are students, there must be teachers" is maintained in a reasonable and effective manner. Strengthen teacher training and retraining, both in professional ethics and specialized knowledge, to meet the requirements of innovation.

Develop mechanisms to mobilize artisans, artists, professional athletes, foreigners, etc., to participate in educational activities within schools.

Organize a warm and joyful opening ceremony.

The Prime Minister requested that the education sector focus on thoroughly preparing the necessary conditions for the new school year, including a nationwide online opening ceremony down to the commune level, ensuring it is solemn, warm, neat, effective, joyful, and does not cause fatigue for students.

Implement the policy of supporting lunch for primary and secondary school students in land border communes starting from the 2025-2026 school year; exempt or support tuition fees for preschool children and general education students.

The education sector needs to deeply internalize President Ho Chi Minh's teachings in fulfilling its glorious mission and important responsibility of "teaching literacy and character" to students, the young generations, and future owners of the country.

According to the Prime Minister, the Party, the State, the Government, and the Prime Minister himself always understand and share the difficulties and hardships of the education sector and of the more than 1 million teachers who are tirelessly striving and dedicating themselves to the cause of "nurturing future generations".

On the eve of the new academic year 2025-2026, the Prime Minister wished all teachers to always uphold their sense of responsibility and enthusiasm for the profession, overcome all difficulties, persevere in the goal of fundamental and comprehensive reform of education and training, and make an important contribution to helping our country move steadily forward in the new era.