Heroic memories of education are the "Competition to Eliminate Ignorance" campaign (1948)
At the Nghe An Province Historical Archives Center, the original documents on the Popular Education Movement are still intact in value. A typical example is the document "Six-month Competition to Eliminate Ignorance Program" issued by the Nghe An Popular Education Department, which was censored on June 12, 1948, in response to the call for Patriotic Emulation.
Document research shows the scientific and systematic organizational thinking of the previous generation. Not following a temporary movement, the campaign was outlined with a 4-phase strategic roadmap just like a military battle: Starting from "Preparation Month" (June 1948); culminating in "Two months of mobilization and organization" with the "10-day general control of the whole province"; followed by "Three months of consolidation" and ending with "Success Month" at the end of 1948.
The determination is also clearly shown through the "Competition to Eliminate Ignorance Awards" board. The government at that time offered specific awards to encourage the spirit of the entire population, from the award for the district that "eliminated illiteracy first", the award for the person "whose students went to school the most", to the special award for "The two oldest students in each district". This detail demonstrates a learning society without age limits, where all classes of people enthusiastically participated in the patriotic emulation movement to build the country.
Exemplary spirit and systematic organization (1949-1950)
The activities of wartime education were faithfully recreated through a carefully preserved system of original documents. In 1949, the spirit of learning spread strongly thanks to the example of the cadres. The "Certificates" of this period still retain the handwriting of the Commune Chairman confirming the "Commune Team Leader" and the "Vice Chairman" of the commune to "take the primary school exam". The fact that the heads of the commune-level government and military apparatus put aside their busy work to take the exam is a clear demonstration of the view that if cadres want to lead the people, they must first defeat the "enemy of ignorance".
Following this period, by 1950, personnel work was organized more and more systematically. The "Recruitment Forms" for staff of the Nghe An Popular Education Service clearly stipulated recruitment standards and benefits, with a specific salary of 35 kg of rice per month. The payment of remuneration in kind in the context of the resistance economy showed the great efforts of the government in ensuring the lives of cadres so that they could confidently stick with the movement.
Courage to face the truth and determination to overcome difficulties (1951)
However, the journey of "eradicating illiteracy" was not always smooth. At the end of 1951, faced with the fact that the Popular Education Movement was "gradually declining" and "currently at a standstill", the Nghe An Administrative Resistance Committee issued an "APPELLATE".
This document demonstrates the revolutionary government's steadfast political will when it does not hide its shortcomings, but frankly points out the reason as "The people have not yet clearly recognized the practical benefits of education". Not retreating in the face of difficulties, the Appeal firmly affirms the guiding viewpoint "Eliminating ignorance is a form of fighting the enemy on the cultural front".
From that awareness, the province launched a wide-ranging political activity through the "Emulation Week to Be an Exemplary Cadre, Teacher, and Student". It was the frank thinking of acknowledging limitations to innovate working methods that created an important turning point, helping the movement overcome the recession and achieve victory.
Flame 2025: Aspiration from the "Digital Literacy" movement
More than 70 years later, the studious spirit of Nghe An people has risen strongly in the new context. On the morning of June 11, 2025, at the launching ceremony of the "Digital Education for All" movement, Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee Le Hong Vinh emphasized the message of the times that, today, a society that cannot master technology is an underdeveloped society.
That call has awakened the aspirations of the entire province, aiming at the goal of universalizing digital skills so that "no one is left behind". The national online learning platform at binhdanhocvuso.gov.vn officially went into operation, opening up learning opportunities anytime, anywhere for people. That commitment was concretized by the image of the Director of the Department of Home Affairs and leaders of departments, branches and sectors solemnly signing the emulation agreement, demonstrating the high determination to help Nghe An make a breakthrough in the digital age.
The Home Affairs sector is exemplary, taking the lead in realizing the policy.
Thoroughly grasping the direction of the Provincial People's Committee, the Department of Home Affairs determined its core and pioneering role in the province's digital transformation. This spirit was promptly concretized by Official Dispatch No. 6909/SNV-VP dated October 9, 2025 on the implementation of National Digital Transformation Day.
In this document, the Department's leaders have strongly directed and required all cadres, civil servants, public employees and workers to proactively participate in digital skills training courses. Online learning platforms such as onetouch.mic.gov.vn , mobiedu.vn and especially the "AI training portal for the community" at aicongdong.ptit.edu.vn are thoroughly disseminated to each individual. This requirement is not only an administrative task but also arouses the spirit of self-study and self-research - the traditional beauty of the popular education movement in the past.
From the directive document to practical action is a strong transformation. Only 20 days after issuing the document, on October 29, 2025, the Department of Home Affairs successfully organized a Training Conference on the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in digital transformation and information security. The serious participation of nearly 150 officials, civil servants and public employees at the conference clearly demonstrated the determination to master technology, meeting the requirements of "Comprehensive, comprehensive digital transformation for the entire population".
In parallel with human resource training, the Department is focusing resources on implementing the Project "Building the Historical Archives System of Nghe An Province in the period of 2024 - 2025". This is a specific step to carry out the task of digitizing specialized data in the spirit of Project 06 of the Government. For the Provincial Historical Archives Center, applying digital technology to preserve and promote the value of archival documents is the most fundamental and practical solution to bring historical heritage closer to the people in the digital age.
From the popular education teachers who received their salary in rice in the past to the technology experts who popularize AI today, although the tools have changed from chalk to keyboard, from blackboard to digital screen, they all share the same sacred mission of enlightening the people. If the Popular Education movement in the past lit the path of knowledge for millions of Vietnamese people, then today's Digital Popular Education is opening a new door to knowledge, where data and technology become one to serve the development of people and society.
On the occasion of Vietnamese Teachers' Day November 20, I would like to express my gratitude to all those who have, are and will continue to sow the seeds of knowledge in the studious land of Nghe An. The flame of "Education for the People" will forever burn brightly, guiding us into the era of national development.
Source: https://baonghean.vn/tu-phong-trao-diet-giac-dot-den-binh-dan-hoc-vu-so-tai-nghe-an-10312013.html
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