General Secretary: Investing in education is investing in the country's sustainable and strong development.

(NLDO) - General Secretary To Lam emphasized that building a learning society and encouraging lifelong learning is the most solid foundation for a self-reliant nation.

On the morning of September 5, at the National Convention Center (Hanoi), the Ministry of Education and Training held a ceremony to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Education sector's tradition and open the 2025-2026 school year.

General Secretary To Lam attended the ceremony, delivered a speech, and beat the drum to inaugurate the new school year 2025-2026.

The Lao Dong Newspaper respectfully introduces the full text of General Secretary To Lam's speech.

General Secretary To Lam speaks at the ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Education sector's tradition and the opening of the 2025-2026 school year. Photo: Huu Hung

"Today, in the sacred and proud atmosphere as the whole country celebrates the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day on September 2nd, we are attending the Opening Ceremony of the new school year , commemorating the 80th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's first letter to students nationwide and the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the National Ministry of Education - the predecessor of the Ministry of Education and Training today."

This is an opportunity for us to reflect on our glorious traditions and express our gratitude for the contributions of generations of teachers, educators, and education administrators throughout the country. At the same time, it is also a chance to reaffirm our strong commitment to reform, so that education truly becomes a top national priority, a key driving force for national development and the future of our people .

On behalf of the Party and State leaders, I would like to extend my warmest greetings and best wishes to all teachers, education administrators, and students nationwide. May the education sector continue to make groundbreaking advancements, worthy of the tradition of studiousness and the aspirations of the heroic Vietnamese nation. Congratulations to the Ministry of Education and Training on being awarded the First Class Labor Medal.

Our ancestors taught: "Learning must go hand in hand with practice," and "Talented people are the lifeblood of the nation." In his letter to students on the first day of school in September 1945, President Ho Chi Minh wrote: "From this moment on, you will begin to receive a completely Vietnamese education... to absorb the education of an independent country, an education that will train you to become useful citizens for Vietnam, an education that will fully develop your inherent abilities." These teachings have been, are, and will continue to be the goals and guiding principles of our national education system.

80 years ago, right after the successful August Revolution, the Provisional Government established the Ministry of National Education - a strategic decision, laying the foundation for the new education of independent Vietnam. Along with that, the "Popular Education" movement broke out strongly with the motto "literate people teach illiterate people". Fighting illiteracy became the "opening front" to improve people's knowledge, unleashing human resources for nation building. Recalling those sacred moments, we further remember the great merit of President Ho Chi Minh and his predecessors, and acknowledge the great contributions of generations of teachers who "devoted themselves to their beloved students" and to the cause of education.

Over the past 80 years, whether in the flames of war or in the cause of peace building, Vietnam's revolutionary education has always been at the forefront: creating human resources, nurturing talents, contributing decisively to the victory of the cause of national liberation, national unification and development. Especially since the renovation, education and training have continuously expanded their network, improved their quality, and gradually integrated internationally.

General Secretary To Lam attended the ceremony to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the tradition of the education sector and open the new school year 2025-2026.

Alongside our very proud achievements, we must also seriously acknowledge that the quality of education is still uneven, with significant regional disparities. Fundamental and comprehensive reforms have not been synchronized in some aspects, and there is still confusion in both understanding and action. Higher education is slow to innovate, and the linkages between training, research, and the labor market are not yet strong. Teaching methods in many places do not encourage creativity and self-learning abilities. Infrastructure, digital transformation, and international integration are still limited and inadequate. There have been periods when education has not fully played its role as a driving force for development. These are issues that require our resolute efforts to overcome.

Our country is entering a new stage of development, aiming to become a modern industrialized nation by 2030 and a developed, high-income country by 2045. In the context of globalization, the knowledge economy, science and technology, and the rapid development of digital transformation, education and training must maintain its position as a top national priority, becoming a key driving force for national development .

Recently, the Politburo issued Resolution No. 71 on breakthroughs in education and training development . This month, the Secretariat will hold a national conference to disseminate and implement this resolution. This is a resolution of paramount importance, with a strategic vision, setting ambitious and specific goals, and proposing strong breakthrough tasks and solutions to bring Vietnamese education and training into the global education system. To quickly put the resolution into practice, I propose:

The entire Party must vigorously innovate its leadership thinking regarding education, not imposing old standards on a modern education system, but rather providing close, substantive guidance, organizing decisive and effective implementation, and consistently considering education as a top national priority.

The National Assembly needs to continue improving the legal system, creating a smooth, stable, and advanced legal framework for the reform of education and training.

The government is increasing investment, ensuring financial resources, infrastructure, and personnel; at the same time, it is resolutely removing bottlenecks in mechanisms and policies to unlock and mobilize all social resources for education to the maximum extent.

The Fatherland Front, mass organizations, and social organizations need to leverage the strength of national unity, encourage and spread the movement of the entire population caring for the cause of nurturing future generations.

The education sector needs to be at the forefront of innovation in thinking, methods, and management; building a team of educators who are both knowledgeable and ethical, and who aspire to contribute. Teachers must be shining examples and sources of inspiration for their students. Students must cultivate great ambitions and aspirations, study and train to become global citizens, gradually integrating into international standards while always preserving their Vietnamese identity and spirit.

To successfully implement the reform of education and training in the new phase, I would like to emphasize some major directions:

Firstly, we need a strong shift in thinking and action . We must move from "corrective" reforms to a constructive mindset – leading national development through education; using quality, equity, integration, and efficiency as benchmarks; and tightening enforcement discipline.

Secondly, we must ensure equal access to education and raise the general level of literacy . No child should be left behind; priority should be given to remote, border, island, and disadvantaged areas; and investment should be increased in schools, school nutrition, teachers, and digital infrastructure. Recently, we have implemented tuition fee exemption for all students from preschool to high school; some localities have provided free lunch for children attending school for two sessions. The Politburo has also concluded on the policy of investing in the construction of multi-level boarding schools in 248 border communes. Initially, a pilot program will be implemented to complete the construction or renovation of 100 schools by 2025, no later than the start of the following school year.

Thirdly, reform general education in a comprehensive direction . This includes not only imparting knowledge, but also nurturing character, developing physical fitness, cultivating the soul, fostering civic spirit, discipline, and social responsibility; forming a generation that is "both intelligent, compassionate, and resilient"; and striving for early universalization of general education.

Fourth, create breakthroughs in higher education and vocational education . Universities must become centers for generating knowledge and technology, nuclei of innovation and entrepreneurship; closely linking training, research, and technology transfer with the needs of national development. It is necessary to establish large universities of regional and international stature, and modern vocational training institutions, to train high-quality human resources, contributing to the country's breakthroughs in science and technology, industrialization, and digital transformation.

Fifth, promote international integration in education . Integrate to learn the best, narrow the gap, spread standards; encourage joint training, program linkage, credit recognition, lecturer-student exchange, attract international scholars; thereby enhancing the position of Vietnamese education.

Sixth, take care of building a team of teachers and educational administrators . Teachers are the soul of education, the decisive factor in the success or failure of innovation. Teachers not only impart knowledge, but also sow aspirations, foster personality, and light up beliefs in students. Therefore, teachers themselves must constantly study, be creative, and set exemplary examples. The Law on Teachers passed by the National Assembly is the foundation to ensure the improvement of material life, rights, and legitimate interests, while improving professional standards, ethics, responsibilities, and social status of teachers.

Seventh, promote digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI) in education . Turn technology into a driving force for fundamental and comprehensive innovation: flexible teaching and learning, open learning materials, safe and humane digital platforms; improve digital capacity for teachers and students; ensure data security and safety.

Eighth, prioritize investment in education . Investing in education is investing in the future of the nation. Master plan, arrange the system (especially public universities) to form training - research - innovation centers on par with the region, reaching international level; use public spending effectively, not spread out; strengthen public-private cooperation, strongly mobilize social resources to join hands in the cause of cultivating people.

Ninth, building a learning society, lifelong learning . In the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, knowledge changes every day, every hour; what is advanced today may be outdated tomorrow. Therefore, learning is not only a personal need, but must first be seen as a political responsibility, a permanent revolutionary action of every citizen. At any age, field or profession, we must learn to avoid falling behind, learn to master knowledge and technology, learn to develop ourselves and contribute to building a strong and prosperous country.

Building a learning society and encouraging lifelong learning is the most solid foundation for a self-reliant nation. It is not only an essential asset for each individual, but also a core value of the nation, ensuring that our people keep pace with the times and affirm Vietnam's capabilities and intelligence on the international stage.

On the occasion of the opening of the new school year 2025-2026, I tell you the following: The previous generation has made victory with blood and bones, today, in peace, integration and aspirations to rise, the responsibility of your generation is to make new victory with knowledge - courage - creativity . Therefore, you: (1) Set clear goals; practice self-discipline ; nurture passion for discovery; (2) Improve capacity, master digital technology and artificial intelligence in a smart, safe and humane way ; (3) Know how to love, share, live responsibly with yourself, your family and the community .

Every step forward you take is the future of the country. Young students should diligently follow the Five Teachings of Uncle Ho; high school students should cultivate character, civic consciousness, enrich their knowledge, and nurture their aspirations; university students should cultivate great ambitions, dare to think and act, be at the forefront of science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, green economy, and international integration; study and train to become useful workers for your families and society.

Over the past 80 years, the Vietnamese teaching staff has silently and persistently made immense sacrifices and contributions to the cause of " nurturing people ". On behalf of the Party and State leaders, I express my deep gratitude and sincere appreciation to the generations of teachers. In the new phase, I hope that teachers will: (1) Continue to set an example, innovate methods, and guide students on the path of knowledge and character; (2) Pioneer digital transformation, guide students to use technology (especially artificial intelligence) in a creative, effective, safe and humane way; (3) Actively participate in contributing to policies, together with the whole industry to improve the quality and equity in education.

Our Party has always identified education and training as the top national policy, the key driving force that determines the future of the nation. More than ever, we must consider investment in education as investment in the future, in the sustainable and powerful development of the country.

The 80th anniversary of Uncle Ho's letter to students and the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the Ministry of Education today is not only an occasion to review the glorious tradition, but more importantly, to affirm the determination to build a modern - humane - integrated Vietnamese education system, contributing to the glory of the nation, bringing the country to stand shoulder to shoulder with the great powers of the five continents.

I call upon the entire Party, the entire people, the entire army; all levels, sectors, and localities; every family and every citizen – to join hands in caring for the cause of nurturing future generations, for the future of our children, for the prosperity of the Fatherland, and for the happiness of the people.

With a tradition of valuing education, a dedicated team of teachers, the striving efforts of students nationwide, and the attention of the entire society, I believe that our education sector will continue to overcome difficulties, achieve many great accomplishments, and contribute to realizing the aspiration of building a strong and prosperous Vietnam.

On the occasion of the new school year, I wish all teachers, parents, and students across the country a new school year full of enthusiasm, success, and joy!

Source: https://nld.com.vn/tong-bi-thu-dau-tu-cho-giao-duc-la-dau-tu-cho-su-phat-trien-ben-vung-va-hung-cuong-cua-dat-nuoc-196250905110102445.htm