The more honored, the more responsibility must be promoted

On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Vietnam Teachers' Day, Nghe An Newspaper had an interview with Prof. Dr. Thai Van Thanh - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Director of the Department of Education and Training, National Assembly Delegate on the issue of teachers and the tasks set for teachers in the period of integration and development.

PV:Dear Professor, Dr. Thai Van Thanh, November 20 has become a traditional holiday of the Vietnamese people. So, for those who are teachers, what is the meaning of this holiday? What do you think about the tradition of respecting teachers of the Vietnamese people?

Prof. Dr. Thai Van Thanh: Since 1982, at the request of the Education sector, the Council of Ministers issued Decision No. 167 - HDBT on Vietnamese Teachers' Day. In which, there is a provision that November 20 is Vietnamese Teachers' Day. November 20 is considered a holiday to honor and praise teachers and educators, contributing to strengthening the love of teachers for their profession. This is also an opportunity for the Education sector to review and evaluate the effectiveness of educational activities and propose solutions for the next stages to contribute to the further development of education.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Bui Dinh Long and Director of the Department of Education and Training Thai Van Thanh awarded outstanding teachers of Nghe An province on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Vietnam Teachers' Day. Photo: Pham Bang

In 2022,Vietnamese Teachers' DayIt is even more meaningful because we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the industry's holiday. The fact that the whole society is interested in this holiday also shows the tradition of the Vietnamese people, remembering the person who planted the tree when eating the fruit, the tradition of respecting teachers, the tradition of learning. This has fostered the love for the profession and the dedication of the team of teachers. The career of educating people is very difficult and arduous but also very glorious, recognized and honored by society. Therefore, compared to other professions, the salary and income of the teaching profession is not high, but having chosen the teaching profession, most teachers are passionate and enthusiastic about the job of conveying knowledge to students and forming the personality of the young generation, for the future of the country.

Vietnamese Teachers' Day is also a day for generations of students, regardless of position or age, to show their gratitude to their teachers. It is a very profound and beautiful cultural feature of the Vietnamese people, a precious tradition that has been maintained through many generations.

For the education sector, Vietnamese Teachers' Day is truly a great festival of the sector. From there, it fosters the feelings and enthusiasm of the team of teachers, forgetting the hardships and fatigue of daily work and life to rise up, to be more responsible, more dedicated, and to make greater sacrifices for generations of students. Each teacher himself or herself is also aware of the responsibility to contribute to the education sector and to the younger generation.

Computer class of students at Le Hong Phong Secondary School (Hung Nguyen). Photo: Dinh Tuyen

PV:Nghe An is a large province with a team of nearly 50,000 teachers. How do you evaluate the contributions of the province’s teaching staff? What is the most outstanding mark of Nghe An teachers?

Prof. Dr. Thai Van Thanh:Nghe An has long had the tradition of "Nghe An scholars", so from feudalism to the present day, Nghe An people have always cared about learning and considered it a top priority. From this precious thing, Nghe An teachers have inherited many good traditions from their ancestors and they have their own character. That is hard work, dedication to the profession. Therefore, in the process of working, there are many good teachers, brave, with their own personality, devoted to students, but also very strict, very generous. The greatest wish of teachers is that all students are good people, good citizens, successful.

With these unique characteristics, the voice of Nghe An teachers is very prestigious, demonstrating their capacity, qualifications, character, courage and always showing responsibility and a spirit of contribution to the development of the industry. In particular, Nghe An teachers are very hard-working, self-studying, self-improving, and know how to sacrifice... Thanks to these valuable qualities, no matter how difficult, arduous or facing the requirements of innovation, Nghe An teachers can meet them.

Class time of students at Ly Nhat Quang Secondary School (Do Luong). Photo: My Ha

The results achieved in self-study and self-improvement are also great achievements of Nghe An Education sector and they are confident and steadfast in implementing them.General Education Program 2018. In addition, the province's teaching staff has many excellent teachers, not only in teaching but also in research, implementation of global teachers, innovation, student start-ups. Therefore, in recent years, Nghe An has not only maintained the quality of key education but also succeeded in many competitions and prestigious playgrounds, many teachers have been awarded many noble titles by the Party and the State. This also demonstrates the worthy achievements of the province's teaching staff, recognizing and honoring the contributions of teachers to the cause of training and education.

PV:Sir, in addition to the achievements that have been made, to build a team of teachers who are "both red and professional", especially in the era of technology 4.0, the Nghe An Education sector will have many more challenges and difficulties. And to meet that requirement, teachers will have a lot of pressure?

Prof. Dr. Thai Van Thanh:Implementing innovation often entails many difficulties, because it requires changing old things, changing from within awareness. If there is awareness and determination, the implementation will be successful.

English lesson of teacher and students at Muong Xen Town Primary School (Ky Son). Photo: My Ha

One of the current difficulties is that teachers must self-study and self-train to meet the requirements. The education sector is also facing difficulties due to lack of staff and teachers and is having to implement many solutions to mobilize the teaching staff to participate in teaching, such as teacher contracts and short-term training to have enough teachers to teach new subjects. We also share with schools that currently many subjects such as English and Fine Arts in primary and high schools are lacking both teachers and recruitment sources, and that can affect the quality of teaching and the process of changing textbooks in schools.

I also share with the teaching staff, because in the current context, teachers are under a lot of pressure. Therefore, with the increasingly high demands of society, teachers not only care about their expertise, but also require teachers to be dedicated, more dedicated, more responsible, more responsible and to make sacrifices. In addition, teachers must know how to share, bond, and care more deeply for their students, helping them to access the 2018 General Education Program, aiming at global citizens, comprehensively developing Morality - Intelligence - Body - Beauty.

PV:One of the issues mentioned by the Minister of Education and Training at this National Assembly session is the issue of increasing salaries and allowances for teachers. As a National Assembly delegate, what is your opinion on this issue, especially so that teachers can work with peace of mind and be attached to their schools and classes?

Prof. Dr. Thai Van Thanh:I strongly agree and support and am excited that the leader of the Vietnamese education sector is interested in the material and spiritual life of teachers. I also hope that society will always pay attention and support the viewpoint of the Minister of Education and Training to gradually improve the material life, helping teachers feel secure in their career of educating people.

The joy of teachers at Dang Thai Mai Secondary School with their students. Photo: My Ha

PV:During his lifetime, President Ho Chi Minh highly valued and honored teachers. He once said: “A good teacher - a teacher worthy of being a teacher - is the most glorious person. Even though their names are not published in newspapers, and they are not awarded medals, good teachers are unsung heroes. This is a very glorious thing.” However, to be a good teacher, to be respected and loved is not easy. On the occasion of Vietnam Teachers' Day (November 20), what would you like to say to the generations of teachers in your province?

Prof. Dr. Thai Van Thanh:On behalf of the industry, I would like to express my deep gratitude and appreciation to the team of teachers who have sacrificed, dedicated, devoted, and responsible for the cause of educating people and have made many contributions to the education cause of the province, helping many generations of students excel and grow up and succeed. I also hope that the team of teachers in the 4.0 technology revolution and in the face of the requirements of educational innovation will continue to make continuous efforts to help the Nghe An Education sector successfully implement the 2018 General Education Program to fundamentally and comprehensively innovate education and training.

PV:Thank you Professor Thai Van Thanh!