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 strong determination to 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 in development, 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:"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 successful 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 merit 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 flames of war or in the cause of peace building, Vietnam's 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-learning 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 breakthroughs 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 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 improve the legal system, creating a smooth, stable and progressive 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 sectorWe need to be pioneers in innovating thinking and management methods; building a team of teachers who are knowledgeable, ethical and have a desire to contribute. Teachers must be shining examples and sources 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 education 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 a creative mindset - leading national development through education; taking quality - equity - integration - efficiency as measures; tightening enforcement discipline.

Second, ensure equal access to education and improve people's intellectual level.No child should be left behind; priority should be given to remote, border, island and disadvantaged areas; investment in schools, nutrition, teachers and digital infrastructure should be 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 two 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, and will 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 of 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 the best, narrow the gap, spread standards; encourage joint training, program linkage, credit recognition, lecturer-student exchange, attract international scholars; thereby enhancing the position of Vietnamese education.

Sixth, take care to build a team of teachers and educational administrators.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, foster 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 driving force 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 make it happen.New victory with knowledge - courage - creativitySo, you guys: (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 personality, civic awareness, enrich knowledge and nurture 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 family and society.

Dear teachers and educational administrators,

Over the past 80 years, the Vietnamese teaching staff has been quietly but persistently making great sacrifices and contributions to the cause."growing 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 contributing policies, and work with the entire industry to improve the quality and equity in education.

Dear comrades, teachers and students!

Our Party has always considered 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 strong development of the country.

The 80th anniversary of Uncle Ho's letter to students and the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the Ministry of Education today is not only an occasion to review the glorious tradition, 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 great powers of the five continents.

I call on the entire Party, the entire people, the entire army; all levels, sectors, localities; each family and each citizen – to join hands in caring for the cause of educating people, for the future of our children, for the prosperity of the Fatherland, for the happiness of the People.

With the tradition of studiousness, with a team of dedicated teachers, with the efforts of students nationwide, and with the attention of the whole society, I believe that our country's education sector will continue to overcome difficulties, reap many great achievements, and contribute to realizing the aspiration of building a strong and prosperous Vietnam.

On the occasion of the new school year, I wish all teachers, parents, and students across the country a new school year full of enthusiasm, success, and joy!

Thank you very much!