Nghe An: Promoting lifelong learning movement

(Baonghean) - Building a learning society is one of the major policies of our state with the aim of improving knowledge, skills, qualifications, and increasing income for all classes of people. In Nghe An, implementing the project of building a learning society has also contributed significantly to the development of the movement to encourage learning and talent and gradually raise people's awareness of lifelong learning.

Positive changes

Mon Son is one of the poor communes in the remote areas of Con Cuong district. However, this is the leading locality in the district's education promotion movement, especially in building families and clans that promote education. Talking about education promotion work, Ms. Ha Thi Trich, currently the Permanent Vice President of the commune's Association for Education Promotion, proudly said: "Although the living conditions of the people are still difficult, in recent years, the people in the commune have been very conscious in building an education promotion fund. Thereby, not only timely encouragement for students with good academic achievements, but also each year helping dozens of students in difficult circumstances with books and clothes to go to school".

Teaching bamboo and rattan weaving to women in Quynh Luu district. Photo: My Ha

Mon Son is also one of the first two localities selected by the Provincial Association for the Promotion of Education to pilot the construction of a learning society. Although this is a fairly new concept, since the model was deployed through consultation and training sessions, people's awareness of joining hands to build a learning society has had positive changes. Moreover, people have realized that learning is not only for school-age people, but farmers, young people, and the elderly can still learn to improve their qualifications and awareness; learning must be associated with vocational training, transferring science and technology to improve productivity and quality of life...

Speaking of education, Mr. Vi Van Tam's family in Thai Son 1 village is a typical example. Previously, his family was poor and hungry all year round. However, in recent years, after his 3 children finished high school and went to study electrical engineering and civil sewing, and had stable jobs, their lives have improved a lot. This is also a typical example that many families in the commune are learning and following.

Implementing the Prime Minister's direction, since 2015, Nghe An Provincial People's Committee has issued Decision 1360 on "Promoting lifelong learning movement in families, clans and communities until 2020". After more than 1 year of pilot implementation, the lifelong learning movement has been expanded throughout the province with the aim of promoting regular and lifelong learning activities in families, clans and communities through the construction and development of models of "Learning Family", "Learning Clan", "Learning Community" and "Learning Unit", contributing to building a learning society.

The cooperation of the whole society

In fact, the policy of building a learning society has been implemented by Nghe An since 2012. Over nearly 5 years, with the coordination of all departments, branches and units, they have actively participated in mobilizing people of all walks of life to study and improve their educational level. Notably, they have organized literacy training for nearly 3,000 people (concentrated in remote, isolated and disadvantaged districts), organized vocational training and cultural supplementary training for hundreds of thousands of rural laborers and workers.

In particular, in recent times, promoting the role of community learning centers, localities have actively implemented science and technology transfer classes, organized seminars and workshops, and popularized information technology and foreign language knowledge for the people. Units have also integrated political and legal education content to all classes of people.

On the side of the Provincial Association for Promotion of Education, it has done a good job of linking and coordinating with organizations and social forces to participate in activities to promote education and talents; at the same time, it has propagated and mobilized social and professional organizations, agencies, armed forces units, enterprises and the entire population to fulfill their responsibilities and obligations in learning and actively participate in building a learning society. By the end of 2016, the whole province had 154,483/764,450 learning families, 1,596/6,650 learning clans, and 128/9,450 learning communities.

The Provincial Association for Promotion of Education awarded prizes to students who achieved excellent results in the region and country in the 2016-2017 school year. Photo: My Ha

However, in addition to the achieved results, the building of a learning society in Nghe An still has limitations. The main reason for the weaknesses is the awareness of the meaning and effects of the work of promoting learning, promoting talents, building a learning society and the responsibility of leadership and direction of Party committees, authorities of some localities, some departments, branches, etc. is not at the right level; therefore, the allocation of resources for these activities, especially for building a learning society, has not met the requirements.

It is also necessary to see that building a learning society and lifelong learning is not a new concept, however, awareness of its role, significance and effects on the cause of industrialization, modernization and international integration of the homeland and country; as well as how to approach it and organize its implementation in current conditions still faces many difficulties, especially the organization of learning for adults and people of working age in a practical and effective manner is still confusing.

In order to build a learning society more effectively and practically, coordination must remain the top priority in the coming time. In addition, it is necessary to increase investment in resources from the State and social contributions. Training will also be more effective when training the right subjects, the right addresses, and linking training to actual needs... Strengthening the construction and development of various types of study encouragement funds, ensuring financial foundations to encourage emulation movements and motivate students, workers, and adults to overcome difficulties to study, practice, and make progress.

My Ha