'Cultivating human resources' for an era of progress.

Meeting with representatives of outstanding teachers in 2024 on the occasion of the Vietnamese Teachers' Day on November 20th, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that, towards the era of national progress, building a strong and prosperous country, education continues to be a top national priority and teachers play a decisive role in the cause of education.

The joy of the opening day of the school year for teachers and students at Viet Duc High School, Hanoi . Photo courtesy of Tuan Anh/TTXVN.

From the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam (1930) to the 14th National Congress of the Party, our nation has gone through four eras: 1945 - A great turning point in the history of the Vietnamese nation, bringing the name of Vietnam to the world map; 1975 - The country entered the era of independence, freedom, and national unity; 1986 - The era of reform and international integration; The 14th National Congress of the Party (scheduled for January 2026) is identified as the beginning of an era of national progress, with the entire country striving to think and act for development, breakthroughs, and take-off. The fourth era - the era of Vietnam's progress - is an era of development, an era of prosperity and strength under the leadership and rule of the Communist Party, successfully building a socialist Vietnam with a wealthy people, a strong nation, a democratic, just, and civilized society, standing shoulder to shoulder with the world's leading powers.

According to General Secretary To Lam, the ultimate goal of the new era is a prosperous people, a strong nation, and a socialist society, standing shoulder to shoulder with the world's leading powers. The top priority in this new era is to successfully achieve the strategic goals – by 2030, Vietnam will become a developing country with modern industry and a high-middle income; and by 2045, it will become a developed socialist country with a high income. This era of national progress coincides with the digital age and the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Among the seven strategic orientations for the country's entry into this new era, the General Secretary emphasized the issue of human resources (cadres), alongside improving the Party's leadership methods; strengthening Party principles in building and perfecting the socialist rule of law; streamlining the organizational structure; and combating waste… In other words, the new era demands a workforce capable of adapting to these changes. During a meeting with representatives of outstanding educators in 2024, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh outlined several specific criteria. Accordingly, the country's education sector must undergo more fundamental and comprehensive reforms, adapting to the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the rapid development of digital technology and artificial intelligence, aiming to reach an advanced level in Asia by 2030 and a world-class level by 2045. According to education experts, the new era presents many challenges for Vietnam's education sector because currently, we focus heavily on knowledge transmission rather than developing the qualities and competencies of learners. Furthermore, the quality of the teaching staff is uneven, and the infrastructure remains limited. To prepare for the nation's advancement, we must improve human capital to meet the knowledge and skill requirements of the new labor environment. In the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, traditional learning models and educational methods will have to change dramatically due to the clear differentiation among learners. Software is being introduced that adapts to the abilities of each student and allows them to learn at a pace that suits their individual needs. With easier access to information, educators must focus more on teaching students how to learn independently, rather than simply transmitting knowledge. This means teaching students how to think critically, how to evaluate situations, and how to develop problem-solving skills. In this new era, the education system must focus on developing the qualities and abilities of learners by guiding them along the most suitable paths for different groups of students, helping them to unleash their individual potential. This needs to be applied at all levels of education and training. In the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, it is evident that we must apply Industry 4.0 in education. Learners are educated in interdisciplinary knowledge and skills, especially management skills and machine operation skills. In this era of national progress and digital age, the role and perception of teachers in teaching have changed significantly compared to traditional concepts. Teachers are not simply transmitters of knowledge but must also possess sufficient knowledge and professional skills, and must diligently explore and create new, effective learning methods. Universities and vocational training institutions must change their teaching methods as well as the way they assess student quality according to standards that can meet the requirements of the new labor market. "Cultivating human resources" for this era of national progress is a great responsibility, and this is by no means easy. Therefore, the Prime Minister requested that ministries, sectors, and localities continue to pay attention to and care for the cause of education with the motto "Putting students at the center and as the subjects - teachers as the driving force - schools as the support - families as the foundation - society as the basis".

Tran Quang Vinh (VNA)

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/giao-duc/trong-nguoicho-ky-nguyen-vuon-minh-20241120072050468.htm