Ho Chi Minh City celebrates 50 years of building and developing the education sector

On the morning of November 20, the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City held a ceremony to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Ho Chi Minh City Education and Training Sector and the 43rd anniversary of Vietnamese Teachers' Day (November 20, 1982 - November 20, 2025). After 50 years of establishment and development, the Ho Chi Minh City Education and Training Sector has been recognized for overcoming many difficulties, pioneering innovation and becoming one of the major knowledge centers of the country.

Speaking at the ceremony, Permanent Deputy Minister of Education and Training Pham Ngoc Thuong emphasized: Looking back 50 years, we can see that the education sector of Ho Chi Minh City "is behind but ahead". According to Deputy Minister Pham Ngoc Thuong, although starting 30 years later than the revolutionary education system, the City has promptly and resolutely implemented the work of eliminating illiteracy and universalizing education. In just 21 months after the unification, Ho Chi Minh City eliminated illiteracy for more than 93,000 people and by 1995, it had completed universal primary education, and in 1996, it met the standard of eliminating illiteracy.

Along with that, continuing education and vocational education have developed strongly, helping the City become a member of the "Global Learning Cities" network from 2024.

Welcome performance by teachers and students of Ho Chi Minh City.

Ho Chi Minh City is also at the forefront of many high-quality training models such as advanced schools - international integration, integrated programs, STEM education, innovation - startups; at the same time, promoting digital transformation with electronic transcripts, digital learning materials warehouses, smart schools and AI applications in management.

The city is implementing conditions to make English the second language; the school sports movement maintains its leading position with 10 Phu Dong Sports Festivals. On December 1, 2025, Ho Chi Minh City will organize a Vovinam performance by 50,000 students, aiming to set two world records.

At the same time, the socialization of education creates conditions to expand learning opportunities and reduce the burden on the public system; the city's education sector also regularly supports localities affected by natural disasters, shares experiences and trains teachers, and spreads effective teaching models.

Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training Nguyen Van Hieu delivered the opening speech.

On behalf of the City's leaders, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Van Duoc expressed deep gratitude to the team of teachers through many generations, who contributed to laying the foundation for Ho Chi Minh City's education right from the early days when it was still full of difficulties. Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee emphasized that many teachers put aside their personal happiness to go to remote areas to bring the light of knowledge to students, creating a tradition of affection and dedication for the industry.

The Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee also said that all of the city’s development achievements have the mark of education. Millions of students who have grown up from the city’s schools have been taking on many important responsibilities in the country’s development. The city has identified education as the core foundation and one of the three strategic breakthroughs of the term; in which the teaching staff plays a decisive role.

Mr. Nguyen Van Duoc suggested that the industry continue to innovate teaching and learning methods, strongly apply information technology, attach importance to moral education and life skills; deploy the Happy School Criteria Set in all educational institutions; create a safe and creative learning environment, helping each student develop comprehensively.

City leaders presented flowers to congratulate and express gratitude to teachers of Ho Chi Minh City.

At the ceremony, the Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee also presented the Traditional Flag to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training. Many collectives and individuals with outstanding achievements were awarded Certificates of Merit by the Minister of Education and Training.

Previously, on the evening of November 19, Ho Chi Minh City also held a ceremony to honor outstanding teachers in the cause of building, innovating and developing education in the period 1975 - 2025, and at the same time presented the 28th Vo Truong Toan Award. 9 teachers were awarded the Labor Medal; 50 managers and teachers received the Vo Truong Toan Award. 2025 is also the first year the award selected outstanding teachers from the three regions of Ho Chi Minh City - Binh Duong - Ba Ria Vung Tau (old) after the merger.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/giao-duc/tp-ho-chi-minh-ky-niem-50-nam-xay-dung-va-phat-trien-nganh-giao-duc-20251120114404680.htm