Congratulatory letter from President Nguyen Xuan Phuc on the occasion of Vietnam Teachers' Day

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the 2022-2023 academic year at the University of Science (Vietnam National University, Hanoi). Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

Dear teachers, administrators and staff of the Education sector!

On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Vietnamese Teachers' Day (November 20, 1982 - November 20, 2022); I would like to send my best wishes and best regards to all teachers, administrators and staff of the education sector.

Dear comrades!

Our nation is a studious nation, valuing learning; therefore, the title “teacher” has been honored for thousands of years. After the country gained independence, President Ho Chi Minh attached great importance to building a new education system, an independent, progressive, comprehensive education system in the direction of nationalism, modernity, humanity, taking the goal of serving the Fatherland and the people as the foundation. To successfully achieve that goal, he highly appreciated the role of the teaching staff:“The mission of education is very important and glorious, because without teachers there is no education… Without education, without cadres, there is no talk of economy or culture.”

Imbued with national traditions and Ho Chi Minh's ideology, over the past century, generations of Vietnamese teachers have strived to overcome difficulties, always maintaining the flame of passion for education, constantly innovating, creating, competing to teach well; being shining examples of ethics, dedication, and passion for the profession. There are teachers who have sacrificed their youth, devoted themselves to their students, staying with their schools and classes, becoming second fathers and mothers to students in remote areas, areas with difficult socio-economic conditions, border areas, and islands.

Thanks to that effort, the country's education has had many positive and encouraging changes. Up to now, over 99% of people aged 15-60 are literate, nearly 100% of 5-year-old children go to school. According to the Programme for International Student Assessment, 15-year-olds (PISA), our students have exceeded the average of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Student teams competing in international and Asian Olympic competitions have all achieved high rankings. Higher education has implemented a shift in the structure of occupations towards meeting the requirements of high-quality, highly qualified human resources. University autonomy has achieved good results and is being expanded; many university training sectors and fields are in the top 500 in the world; Vietnam also ranks 49th in the world in terms of the number of scientific papers published in prestigious international publications; many Vietnamese universities have entered the rankings of the best universities in the world.

On behalf of the Party and State leaders, I acknowledge, commend and highly appreciate the efforts and achievements of the education sector in recent times; I would like to express my gratitude to all teachers, managers and employees of the education sector who carry on their shoulders the glorious and noble mission of "growing people"; helping the dreams of each generation of students fly high and far.

Dear teachers!

In the current period, our country's education is facing new requirements, placing high demands on the capacity, qualities and personality of teachers. I hope that teachers will always have enough health, enthusiasm, knowledge, methods and confidence to continue to love their profession and wholeheartedly contribute to the education cause of our country. Every teacher must always be aware of cultivating morality and talent, self-cultivation, cultivating revolutionary moral qualities, loving the profession and loving people, improving professional capacity, striving to become a good teacher, truly a role model, a shining example for students.

I also recommend that schools pay attention to building a cultural and creative environment, focusing on both "teaching words" and "teaching people", promoting democracy so that teachers have the conditions to develop their talents and contribute to the cause of education.

On this occasion, I request all levels, sectors, mass organizations and the whole society to join hands with the education sector, remove difficulties, overcome weaknesses, join forces, unite, raise the level of Vietnam's education sector, and realize the aspiration of building a prosperous and happy country.

Wishing all teachers and comrades good health, overcoming all difficulties, competing to teach well, study well and manage well as beloved Uncle Ho advised."No matter how difficult it is, teachers and students must compete to teach well and study well.".

Wishing the education career to develop more and more, contributing worthily to the process of industrialization, modernization and international integration of the country.

Friendly,

NGUYEN XUAN PHUC

Misinform