Overcoming boredom and monotony in teaching political theory

(Baonghean)- Laziness in studying political theory stems from many different causes, but mainly from individual cadres and party members themselves.

Nghe An Newspaper had a dialogue with comrade Nguyen Thi Hong Hoa - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Party Secretary, Principal of Nghe An Provincial Political School on innovation and improving the quality of studying political theory.

PV:Dear comrade! The Resolution of the 4th Central Committee (12th tenure) on Party building and rectification has systematically pointed out the manifestations to identify the degradation of political ideology, morality, lifestyle, “self-evolution”, “self-transformation” within the Party. In which, the Central Committee determined that laziness in studying political theory (LLCT) is a manifestation of degradation. What is your opinion on the current situation of studying political theory?

Comrade Nguyen Thi Hong Hoa:Throughout the process of leading the revolution, our Party has always paid attention to political theory education to enlighten revolutionary ideals, raise political awareness, unify will and action within the Party, and gain consensus among the people to successfully carry out revolutionary guidelines and tasks in each period.

Provincial Political School. Photo courtesy

Therefore, the work of educating political ideology plays a particularly important role for the Party and its activities. Therefore, if cadres and party members do not pay attention to studying Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh's thought, and do not have a firm grasp of political ideology, it will lead to ideological and political degradation. These manifestations of ideological and political degradation are having a great impact on the belief in the social regime that our Party and people have chosen.

However, currently, in the learning process, there are many people who are not really serious in studying, cultivating political theory, have incorrect learning motivations, study to get degrees, use degrees as a "glaze" to get promoted, increase salary, change ranks...

Therefore, many cadres and party members have not spent much time and effort to research, study, and grasp the Party's guidelines and resolutions in particular, and the Party's political system in general. A number of cadres and party members are lazy to study, lazy to think, and do not regularly receive new information and understanding. Therefore, when participating in the study, some students only come to take the roll call but do not really pay attention to listening and thinking about the issues presented by the lecturer. Many students appear indifferent to new knowledge content and new resolutions of the Party.

Thus, being lazy in studying the Party's resolutions in particular and the Party's political system in general is one of the very dangerous manifestations of "degeneration", which makes cadres and party members unable to grasp the Party's guidelines and viewpoints, and the policies and leadership measures of the Party committee and organization.

This is one of the reasons why, although the Party's resolutions are very correct, they are slow to be implemented, concretized and become reality. There are even cases where cadres and party members misunderstand and act against the Party's guidelines and resolutions, causing dissatisfaction and anxiety among cadres, party members and the people. Therefore, studying the Party's ideology plays an extremely important role, is a necessary, urgent, regular and long-term task for each organization, cadre and party member.

PV: So! According to you, what is the cause of the "disease" of being lazy to study LLCT?

Comrade Nguyen Thi Hong Hoa:Laziness in studying political theory comes from many different causes, but mainly from individual cadres and party members themselves.

Lecturers of the Provincial Political School and students exchange during class. Photo by Thanh Duy

First of all, cadres and party members have not yet determined the correct purpose and motivation for studying. Studying is not for its own sake, not for the purpose and duty of serving the Fatherland and the people, but studying to get a degree, for promotion, to meet the standards for promotion and appointment, to become an official, to get rich. Because the motivation for studying political theory is not pure, for personal gain, studying cannot be of quality and effective.

Besides, in the age of science and technology, the internet is everywhere, information can be spread and shared on the internet, so having to read and study thick textbooks, heavy on theory and requiring concentration and time to study has become an unconscious thing for today's students. Instead, they easily rely on the internet and other devices without paying attention to taking notes, exchanging information or actively participating in learning. Not to mention, some students are more interested in entertainment content or entertainment sites than in receiving political content.

An equally important reason is that some Party committees, authorities, agencies and units have not properly recognized the role, significance and importance of training and fostering political ideology, so they have not paid due attention to training and fostering political ideology. The quality and effectiveness of political ideology education are not commensurate with the requirements and tasks.

Training and fostering programs are still quite heavy on theory, the close combination between theory and practice is still limited; not oriented towards training and fostering contents according to job positions, jobs and positions held by cadres and party members; Although the curriculum has been renewed, it has not been updated promptly with new knowledge, new theoretical ideas of the times and in the new resolutions of the Party, many contents are outdated compared to domestic and foreign practices.

The delegation from the Political School visited the construction of intra-field roads in Dien Thinh commune (Dien Chau). Photo courtesy

Although the teaching methods of the lecturers and reporters have been innovated, they still focus heavily on lecturing. In addition, the work of testing and evaluating teaching and learning outcomes still has many shortcomings.

In addition, the system of mechanisms and policies is not really reasonable and practical; regulations on political theory qualifications for cadre positions and on decentralization of training and fostering according to subjects and position standards are still inadequate.

Although the teaching staff and management staff at training and development institutions have been taken care of, they still do not meet the requirements of innovation, especially in terms of practical experience. Policies for teachers and learners are not really suitable, and do not encourage the positivity of the teaching staff and staff in both teaching and learning.

The budget for LLCT education is still limited, investment in facilities, technology, and modernization of equipment for teaching has not yet met the requirements of innovation and development.

In addition, the lax management of some training institutions, the opening of classes that are not suitable for each region, while not identifying the real needs of training... leads to low quality of teaching, not attracting and convincing listeners, causing boredom and monotony, making learners increasingly move away from LLCT issues.

PV:To improve the quality and effectiveness of political theory learning associated with the implementation of Resolution 4 of the 12th Central Committee, the system of political theory training institutions, including the Political School, is an important "army" contributing to this work. What solutions will the Provincial Political School focus on, comrade?

Comrade Nguyen Thi Hong Hoa:To improve the quality and effectiveness of studying political theory in conjunction with implementing Resolution 4 of the Central Committee, there must be many positive and responsible solutions from many levels, sectors, units, organizations as well as cadres and party members, and there must be solutions from both sides: teachers and learners. Particularly for the Provincial Political School, it has been focusing on the following tasks and solutions:

Firstly, actively preside over and coordinate with relevant departments and branches to advise the Provincial Party Standing Committee to issue a Plan for compulsory political theory training and the Directive on "Strengthening leadership and management of training and fostering of cadres, civil servants and public employees in Nghe An" to effectively implement the action program of Resolution 4 of the Central Committee (term XII).

Leaders of the Provincial Party Committee's Organizing Committee and the Provincial Political School presented flowers to students of the 2015-2017 non-concentrated advanced political class with excellent achievements in studying and training. Photo: Thanh Le

Second, focus on building a team of lecturers and staff of the School sufficient in quantity and improving quality. In particular, focus on building a team of lecturers with strong political will, knowledge and practical experience, appropriate teaching methods, and dedication to the profession.

Along with that, the School focuses on solutions to innovate program content, promptly update new knowledge; innovate teaching methods of political theory for cadres and party members according to the motto of theory linked to practice, promoting the positivity and initiative of learners. Implement recruitment and attract high-quality human resources. At the same time, advise and propose appropriate mechanisms, policies and regimes to motivate the teaching staff at the school as well as attract part-time lecturers who are leaders, managers and good experts to participate in teaching and imparting at the political theory training facility.

Third, the School proactively coordinates with training institutions to expand training forms, diversify program content and training subjects. Identify needs and develop a political theory learning plan that is accurate and appropriate to the actual situation of each agency, unit, and locality, to avoid widespread and ineffective training and development.

The Provincial Political School invited reporters and experts to report on the topic "Studying and following Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and lifestyle associated with promoting the core values ​​of Nghe An people". Photo by Thanh Le

Teaching and learning methods are suitable for each group of students and each different area, focusing on equipping skills and methods; paying attention to grassroots cadres and areas with specific characteristics such as remote areas, ethnic minorities, religions, borders, and islands; At the same time, applying strict management measures for teaching and learning quality by strengthening inspection and evaluation of teaching and learning results.

Fourth, Continue to increase investment in modernizing facilities and equipment for modern teaching and learning, gradually meeting the requirements of teaching innovation as well as the needs of learners.

Finally, it is very important to make studying Marxism-Leninism, Ho Chi Minh Thought, the Party's policies and guidelines, and the State's laws the personal responsibility of each cadre and party member in self-studying and researching to improve the qualifications, intelligence, mettle, and working capacity of cadres and party members.

To combat ideological and political degradation, the sense of responsibility of each cadre and party member must be raised. Effectively overcome the situation of laziness in studying and reluctance to study political theory of a number of cadres and party members. Along with that, further strengthen the leadership of the Party Committee and the management of the State in the work of training and fostering political theory.

PV: Thank you very much, comrade!

Thanh Le(perform)