A 'phenomenon' demonstrating the qualities and abilities of the young generation right in school

However, the work of developing new party members mainly focuses on union members working in production and combat fields.Developing party members in schoolsless, and even less in high schools. The reason for this situation may be that high school students are too young, and high school may not be the place to challenge and train enough to evaluate and trust. In addition, party cells in high schools are not really interested in developing new party members among students.

That is generally the case. However, there is still a case that can be considered rare: In just 2 school years, a high school (now a high school) admitted 18 new party members, of which 17 were seniors. That was Yen Thanh 2 High School, of the 1965-1966 and 1966-1967 school years (now Yen Thanh 2 High School). Let me recount this rare case to have more thoughts on the work of developing new party members among high school students, and more broadly among students of vocational schools, colleges, universities... today.

In the 1965 - 1966 school year, Yen Thanh High School was divided into two schools: Yen Thanh 1 and Yen Thanh 2 to adapt to the war situation. Party cellYen Thanh 2 High SchoolThis school year there are 4 party members (1 probationary party member) who are all teachers holding the positions of principal, party cell secretary, union secretary and school youth union secretary.

The school Party Congress resolved: Focus on leading the implementation of Uncle Ho's advice with the best results: No matter how difficult it is, we must strive to teach well, study well, create a solid foundation and create momentum for breakthroughs right from the beginning of the school's first school year.

Party cell of Yen Thanh II High School, school year 1965 - 1966. (The author stands on the far right). Photo provided by the author

To successfully carry out that political task, the party cell, the board of directors, the teachers' council, the trade union and the school's youth union must all be strong. Because party members must truly be exemplary pioneers, demonstrating the role of leaders while also attaching importance to the task of developing new party members among teachers and students.

After the congress, the Party cell held a thematic meeting to discuss in depth the work of Party development among students to unify awareness, viewpoints, thoughts and methods.

The Party cell agreed on the following contents:

- Cultivating outstanding members among students to recruit them into the Party is necessary and possible, even though developing Party members from high school students is still quite new.

- From the two-good emulation movement, through the activities of the Vietnam Labor Youth Union, the school discovers, educates, and trains the most outstanding union members, creating a source of developing new party members from among students.

- Assign the Party cell secretary to directly direct and organize the implementation of this task. Assign the Party cell secretary and the school's Youth Union Executive Committee to develop a specific program and plan to carry out this task.

Receiving the assigned tasks of the Party cell, under the close and dedicated direction of the Party cell secretary, the school's executive committee identified several tasks to focus on:

- The teacher union and student union must truly be pioneers and core in the two-good emulation movement. Despite difficulties and shortages, it is necessary to ensure and improve the quality of teaching and learning at the school. We are determined not to be inferior to any high school in the province.

- Organize well the Youth Union activities, build good 4-member Youth Union, promote the "leadership" role of the Youth Union cadre team from the Youth Union branches to the school Youth Union.

- From the two-good emulation movement and through the activities of the school's Youth Union organization to "create a source" to develop party members for the Party cell. The School Youth Union Executive Committee, through the Youth Union branches, selected outstanding members who overcame difficulties to study well, had the will and consciousness to practice and strive, and were Youth Union cadres with qualities and abilities, to introduce to the Party cell to be "subjects" for Party admission.

Students of Yen Thanh 2 High School at the 2018 graduation ceremony. Photo: PV

The first school year was called Yen Thanh 2 High School, and the following school year, the school had a great harvest both politically and professionally. 100% of 10th grade students passed the graduation exam, some students took part in the excellent student competition in the North, 85 10th grade graduates (the final class at that time) were able to study in the Soviet Union, China and some socialist countries (the school had the largest number of students studying abroad in the province at that time). The first school year, called Yen Thanh 2 High School, created a "phenomenon" that is still a "phenomenon" today: 17 male and female students were admitted to the Party. The Yen Thanh 2 High School Party Cell initially had only 4 party members, after one school year it had 22 party members (5.5 times more than the original).

More than half a century has passed, 17 students admitted to the Party at Yen Thanh 2 High School, are still worthy of being Party members, all have grown up, steadfast and strong. That proves that the quality of new Party members admitted to the Party from students at that time was very good.

This rare "phenomenon" was achieved, first of all, due to the extremely correct way of posing the problem and the thoughtful attention of the school's party cell, with the high consensus of the Yen Thanh District Party Committee and the local party committees in the district. This "phenomenon" proves thatqualities and abilitiesof the young generation right in school, demonstrating the role of the Youth Union in schools in particular and of the Youth Union in other fields in general.

With the Party's full trust, the Party's attention, guidance, education and training, and the People's nurturing, our young generation will certainly not disappoint the people, forever worthy of being heroic descendants of the heroic Vietnamese nation, worthy of the great Uncle Ho, and the glorious Communist Party of Vietnam.