Full text of General Secretary To Lam's speech at the ceremony to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the tradition of the Education sector and the opening of the new school year 2025-2026

Dear Leaders, former Leaders of the Party, State, and Vietnam Fatherland Front,

Dear veteran teachers, leaders, former leaders of the Ministry of Education and Training, representatives of leaders of departments, ministries, branches and Hanoi City, international friends.

Dear teachers and students nationwide!

Today, in the sacred and proud atmosphere of the whole country celebrating the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day September 2, we attendCeremonyNew school year opening, celebrate80 years since Uncle Ho sent his first letter to students nationwide and 80 years since the establishment of the Ministry of National Education– the predecessor of today's Ministry of Education and Training.

This is an opportunity for us to review the glorious tradition and pay tribute to the contributions of generations of teachers and educational administrators across the country. At the same time, this is also an opportunity to affirm our determination to strongly innovate, toEducation is truly the top national policy, the key driving force of national development and the future of the nation..

On behalf of the Party and State leaders, I would like to send to teachers, education managers, and all students nationwide my warmest greetings and best wishes. I wish the education sector to continue to make breakthroughs, worthy of the tradition of studiousness and aspiration of the heroic Vietnamese people. I congratulate the Ministry of Education and Training on being awarded the First Class Labor Medal.

Dear comrades, teachers and students,

Our fathers taught us:"learning must go hand in hand with practice" "talent is the vitality of the nation"Uncle Ho, in a letter to students on the first day of school in September 1945, wrote:"From this moment on, you will begin to receive a completely Vietnamese education... absorbing the education of an independent country, an education that will train you to become useful citizens of Vietnam, an education that will fully develop your inherent abilities."Those teachings have been and continue to be the goals and mottos of our country's education.

80 years ago, right after the success of the August Revolution, the Provisional Government established the Ministry of National Education - a strategic decision, laying the foundation for the new education of independent Vietnam. Along with that, the "Popular Education" movement broke out strongly with the motto "literate people teach illiterate people". Fighting illiteracy became the "opening front" to improve people's knowledge, unleashing human resources for nation building. Recalling those sacred moments, we further remember the great contributions of President Ho Chi Minh and his predecessors, and acknowledge the great contributions of generations of teachers who "devoted themselves to their beloved students" and to the cause of education.

Dear comrades,

Over the past 80 years, whether in the fires of war or in the cause of peace building, Vietnamese revolutionary education has always been at the forefront: creating human resources, nurturing talents, contributing decisively to the victory of the cause of national liberation, national unification and development. Especially since the renovation, education and training have continuously expanded their network, improved their quality, and gradually integrated internationally.

In addition to the very proud achievements, we also seriously acknowledge that the quality of education is still uneven, with large regional differences. Fundamental and comprehensive innovation is not yet synchronized, and there is confusion in both perception and action. University education is slowly innovated, and the linkage between training - research - labor market is not tight. Teaching methods in many places do not encourage creativity and self-study capacity. Facilities, digital transformation and international integration are still limited and inadequate. There was a period when education did not fully promote its role as a driving force for development. These are issues that require us to resolutely overcome.

Dear comrades,

Our country is entering a new stage of development, with the goal of becoming a modern industrial country by 2030, and a developed, high-income country by 2045. In the context of globalization, knowledge economy, science and technology and digital transformation developing strongly,Education and training must maintain its position as the top national policy, becoming the key driving force for national development..

Recently the Politburo issuedResolution No. 71 on breakthrough in education and training development. This month, the Secretariat will hold a National Conference to disseminate and implement this resolution. This is a resolution of utmost importance, with a strategic vision, with large, specific goals, tasks, and strong breakthrough solutions, bringing Vietnamese education and training into the flow of world education. To quickly bring the resolution into life, I propose:

The whole partyIt is necessary to strongly innovate leadership thinking towards education, not to impose old standards for a modern education, but to closely and substantially direct, organize and implement resolutely, effectively, and consistently consider education as the top national policy.

National AssemblyIt is necessary to continue to perfect the legal system, creating a smooth, stable and advanced legal corridor for the cause of educational and training innovation.

GovernmentIncrease investment, ensure financial resources, facilities, and staff; at the same time, resolutely remove bottlenecks in mechanisms and policies to unblock and maximize the mobilization of all social resources for education.

Fatherland Front, unions, social organizationsIt is necessary to promote the strength of great solidarity, encourage and spread the movement of the whole people to care for the cause of educating people.

Education industryneed to be pioneers in innovation of thinking and management methods; build a team of teachers who are both knowledgeable, ethical and have the desire to contribute. Teachers must be shining examples, a source of inspiration for students. Students must nurture great ambitions and aspirations, study and practice to become global citizens, gradually integrating into international standards but always maintaining Vietnamese identity and soul.

To successfully carry out the cause of educational and training innovation in the new period, I would like to emphasize some major orientations:

First, strongly innovate thinking and action.Shift from "corrective" reform to creative thinking - leading national development through education; taking quality - equity - integration - efficiency as measures; tightening enforcement discipline.

Second, ensure equal access to education and improve the intellectual level of the people.No child is left behind; priority is given to remote, border, island and disadvantaged areas; investment in schools - school nutrition - teachers - digital infrastructure is increased. Recently, we have exempted tuition fees for all students from kindergarten to high school; some localities have provided free lunch for children who study 2 sessions. The Politburo has also concluded on the investment policy to build inter-level boarding schools in 248 land border communes. In the immediate future, the pilot investment will complete the construction or renovation of 100 schools in 2025, to be completed by the start of the next school year at the latest.

Third, reform general education in a comprehensive direction.Not only imparting knowledge, but also nurturing personality - training the body - nurturing the soul, arousing civic spirit, sense of discipline and social responsibility; forming a generation of people who are "both talented, kind and resilient"."; strive to soon universalize general education.

Fourth, create breakthroughs in higher education and vocational education.Universities must become centers for knowledge and technology production, the core of innovation and entrepreneurship; closely linking training, research and transfer with the country's development needs. It is necessary to form large universities of regional and international stature, modern vocational training facilities, to train high-quality human resources, contributing to the country's breakthrough in science and technology, industrialization and digital transformation.

Fifth, promote international integration in education.Integrate to learn from the best, narrow the gap, spread standards; encourage joint training, program linkage, credit recognition, exchange of lecturers and students, attract international scholars; thereby enhancing the position of Vietnamese education.

Sixth, take care to build a team of teachers and educational managers.Teachers are the soul of education, the decisive factor for the success or failure of innovation. Teachers not only impart knowledge, but also sow aspirations, nurture personality, and light up beliefs in students. Therefore, teachers themselves must constantly study, be creative, and set exemplary examples. The Law on Teachers passed by the National Assembly is the foundation to ensure the improvement of material life, rights, and legitimate interests, while improving professional standards, ethics, responsibilities, and social status of teachers.

Seventh, promote digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI) in education.Turn technology into a catalyst for fundamental and comprehensive innovation: flexible teaching and learning, open learning materials, safe and humane digital platforms; improve digital capacity for teachers and students; ensure data security and safety.

Eighth, prioritize investment in education.Investing in education is investing in the future of the nation. Master planning, system arrangement (especially public universities) to form training - research - innovation centers on par with the region, reaching international level; using public spending effectively, not spreading out; strengthening public - private cooperation, strongly mobilizing social resources to join hands in the cause of cultivating people.

Ninth, building a learning society and lifelong learning.In the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, knowledge changes every day, every hour; what is advanced today may be outdated tomorrow. Therefore, learning is not only a personal need, but must first be seen as a political responsibility, a permanent revolutionary action of every citizen. At any age, field or profession, we must learn to avoid falling behind, learn to master knowledge and technology, learn to develop ourselves and contribute to building a strong and prosperous country.

Building a learning society and encouraging lifelong learning is the most solid foundation for a self-reliant nation. It is not only the baggage of each individual, but also the core value of the nation, ensuring that our nation advances with the times, affirming the Vietnamese spirit and intelligence in the international arena.

Dear students,

On the occasion of the opening of the new school year 2025-2026, I tell you the following: The generation of our fathers and grandfathers made victory with blood and bones, today, in peace, integration and aspirations to rise up, the responsibility of your generation is to makeNew victory with knowledge - courage - creativitySo, kids: (1) Set clear goals; practice.self-discipline; nurture passion for discovery; (2) Improve capacity, masterydigital technology and artificial intelligence in a smart, safe and humane way; (3) Know how to love, share, and live meaningfullyresponsibility to oneself, family and community.

Every step forward of you is the future of the country. Young students should practice well the 5 teachings of Uncle Ho; high school students need to cultivate their personality, civic awareness, enrich their knowledge and nurture their aspirations; university students should have great ambitions, dare to think, dare to do, be at the forefront of science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, green economy and international integration, study and practice to become useful workers for their families and society.

Dear teachers and educational administrators,

Over the past 80 years, the Vietnamese teaching staff has been quietly but persistently, sacrificing and making enormous contributions to the cause."grow people"On behalf of the Party and State leaders, I would like to express my deep gratitude and sincere appreciation to generations of teachers. In the new period, I hope that teachers will: (1) Continue to set an example, innovate methods, and lead students on the path of knowledge and personality; (2) Pioneer digital transformation, guide students to use technology (especially artificial intelligence) creatively, effectively, safely and humanely; (3) Actively participate in policy contributions, and work with the entire sector to improve the quality and equity in education.

Dear comrades, teachers and students!

Our Party always considers education and training as the top national policy, the key driving force that determines the future of the nation. More than ever, we must consider investment in education as investment in the future, in the sustainable and powerful development of the country.

Today's 80th anniversary of Uncle Ho's letter to students and the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the Ministry of Education is not only an occasion to review glorious traditions, but more importantly, to affirm the determination to build a modern - humane - integrated Vietnamese education system, contributing to the glory of the nation, bringing the country to stand shoulder to shoulder with the world powers.

Tôi kêu gọi toàn Đảng, toàn dân, toàn quân; các cấp, các ngành, các địa phương; mỗi gia đình và từng người dân – hãy chung tay chăm lo cho sự nghiệp trồng người, vì tương lai con em chúng ta, vì phồn vinh của Tổ quốc, vì hạnh phúc của Nhân dân.

Với truyền thống hiếu học, với đội ngũ thầy cô tâm huyết, với sự nỗ lực vươn lên của học sinh, sinh viên trong cả nước, cùng sự quan tâm của toàn xã hội, tôi tin tưởng rằng ngành giáo dục nước ta sẽ tiếp tục vượt qua khó khăn, gặt hái nhiều thành tựu to lớn, góp phần hiện thực hóa khát vọng xây dựng nước Việt Nam hùng cường, thịnh vượng.

Nhân dịp khai giảng năm học mới, xin chúc các thầy giáo, cô giáo, các bậc phụ huynh, cùng các cháu học sinh, sinh viên trên cả nước một năm học mới tràn đầy khí thế, thành công và có nhiều niềm vui!

Xin trân trọng cảm ơn!