Self-learning to avoid falling behind.

From his arduous journey in search of a way to save the country to his years leading the revolution, President Ho Chi Minh always considered learning a lifelong endeavor. He emphasized not only learning from books but also from practical experience, from the people, and from daily work.

President Ho Chi Minh visits the evening cultural and technical enrichment class for workers of the "1-5" Automobile Factory, the leading factory in the Hanoi industrial cultural enrichment movement (December 19, 1963). Photo: VNA archives.

In the context of digital technology and artificial intelligence dramatically changing how people access knowledge today, many researchers believe that this idea remains deeply relevant, especially for the younger generation and intellectuals.

Learn in life, learn from practice.

According to Associate Professor, Dr. Ha Minh Hong, Vice President of the Vietnam Historical Science Association, President Ho Chi Minh's spirit of self-study was formed very early on, during a time when the country was still under colonial rule and educational opportunities for most people were extremely limited. In his self-declared biography from 1935, Nguyen Ai Quoc recorded his educational level as "self-taught." This brief detail shows that his learning was not confined to school but took place throughout his work, revolutionary activities, and exposure to real-life situations.

According to Associate Professor, Dr. Ha Minh Hong, under the colonial regime, the colonialists' policy of keeping the people ignorant made education difficult for Vietnamese people. In that context, many had to educate themselves to broaden their knowledge. President Ho Chi Minh studied Chinese characters from a young age with his father, Nguyen Sinh Sac, and later continued his studies with patriotic scholars such as Hoang Phan Quynh, Vuong Thuc Quy, and Tran Than. Although he emphasized self-study, he always valued the role of teachers and the learning of moral principles. Later, he studied at Franco-Vietnamese schools in Vinh, Dong Ba, and Quy Nhon. However, the concerns he had about the nation's destiny and the path to national salvation could not be found in the colonial education system of the time. The slogans "Liberty - Equality - Fraternity" displayed in the classrooms further motivated him to seek answers through practical experience and his own self-education.

Associate Professor, Dr. Ha Minh Hong believes that the journey from Nha Rong Wharf in 1911 was also a special learning journey for the young Nguyen Tat Thanh. Wherever he went, he observed social life, learned about the political situation, culture, and lives of working people in many countries. During his time abroad, Nguyen Ai Quoc worked to earn a living while also taking advantage of opportunities to visit libraries, attend seminars and rallies to learn about colonial issues, the workers' movement, and the progressive ideas of the era. A prominent feature of President Ho Chi Minh's learning philosophy was learning from practice and from the people. Learning was not only to accumulate knowledge but also to solve problems arising from revolutionary practice and to serve the country.

In numerous writings and speeches, President Ho Chi Minh repeatedly emphasized the role of self-study. In 1947, in his work "Correcting Working Methods," he advised that "self-study should be the core." In 1949, speaking at the Party Cadre Conference, he requested that cadres be helped to study independently. At the First National Conference on Training and Learning in 1950, he continued to remind cadres that they must know how to study on their own initiative, not wait for a teacher to learn.

President Ho Chi Minh always considered learning a lifelong endeavor. In 1959, while speaking to teachers and students at Patgiagiaran University in Indonesia, he stated that although he did not have the opportunity to study when he was young, he had learned from society and from life to love his country, love his people, and hate oppression and injustice. During his second visit to his hometown in 1961, speaking to cadres and Party members in Nghe An, President Ho Chi Minh continued to emphasize the need for constant learning to keep up with the work. He said that even though he was over 70 years old, he had to learn every day because work was constantly changing, and if he didn't learn, he would be left behind.

Associate Professor, Dr. Ha Minh Hong, Vice President of the Vietnam Historical Science Association.

Associate Professor, Dr. Ha Minh Hong affirmed that this idea remains valid in the current context. Digital technology and artificial intelligence are rapidly changing how people access information, but the most important thing remains each individual's self-learning ability and independent thinking. Artificial intelligence is merely a tool created by humans to serve humans; it cannot replace humans. Therefore, learning today must emphasize learning combined with self-learning, learning to understand the essence of the problem and learning to work effectively. Along with that is cultivating perseverance and the ability to self-regulate against temptations and dependence on technology.

President Ho Chi Minh once instructed young people and students that their main task was to study in order to become the future masters of the country. He also reminded them that learning good things is always difficult, requiring perseverance and determination. This is also something that today's young generation needs to preserve in a rapidly changing society with an ever-increasing amount of information.

Read deeply to maintain critical thinking skills.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong Hanh, Deputy Director of the Institute of Information (Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences), believes that Ho Chi Minh's thought shows that reading and self-study are not only ways to acquire knowledge but also paths to forming the thinking, personality, and abilities of each individual. President Ho Chi Minh always considered learning as a process without limits. He once advised learning at school, from books, from each other, and from the people. This shows that reading is an important foundation for lifelong self-learning.

According to Master's degree holder Nguyen Thi Hong Hanh, the important aspect of President Ho Chi Minh's reading style was not reading extensively, but rather reading selectively, reflecting on it, and comparing it with reality. Knowledge acquired must be transformed into action and used in practical work. This is especially necessary for today's intellectuals and researchers. In the context of ever-increasing amounts of information, the issue is no longer a lack of books or information, but the ability to process, select, and master knowledge. Reading should be for deep understanding, critical thinking, and forming one's own perspective, not just for receiving information.

Currently, the development of digital technology and artificial intelligence is dramatically changing how people access knowledge. Many people are becoming accustomed to skimming, reading short texts, or relying on summaries on digital platforms. While this allows for faster access to information, it can also easily diminish the ability to read deeply and think independently. For researchers, deep reading is fundamental to developing in-depth research capabilities and becoming an expert in their field. Reading is not just about knowing information, but about understanding the essence of the problem, the structure of the argument, and the strengths and weaknesses of each research viewpoint.

According to Master's degree holder Nguyen Thi Hong Hanh, over-reliance on supporting tools or ready-made summaries will gradually reduce people's ability to read, analyze, and evaluate problems independently. While the amount of information received may increase, the depth of thinking will be narrowed. This is a problem that needs to be clearly recognized in the current research and training environment. To build a genuine reading culture, reading and self-learning should be considered a professional requirement in research institutions, rather than merely being promoted or encouraged. Reading should be linked to the quality of work and specific scientific products.

People experience reading digital books. Photo: Khanh Hoa/TTXVN

Furthermore, research institutions need to develop open library models, combining reading spaces, research, and academic exchange to create a favorable learning environment for scientists. In the context of digital transformation, a combination of digital and traditional resources is necessary so that researchers can continuously and thoroughly access the necessary materials. In schools, the focus should shift from simply requiring reading to focusing on reading skills. Learners must be able to ask questions, analyze, and rephrase issues using their own thinking. When reading becomes a tool for critical thinking, learners can develop sustainable self-learning habits. For society, the role of the library system as a cultural and educational institution serving lifelong learning should be promoted. In the digital age, building an interconnected network of electronic libraries will help people access authentic knowledge more easily.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong Hanh, M.A., argues that reading culture is not formed from slogans but from habits, personal discipline, and an environment that encourages learning. The spirit of lifelong learning exemplified by President Ho Chi Minh remains something that needs to be maintained by cadres, intellectuals, and the younger generation today.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/giao-duc/tu-hoc-de-khong-bi-tut-lai-phia-sau-20260518172252875.htm