10 educational and training milestones in 2023

1. Evaluation of the results of 10 years of education and training innovation in the spirit of Resolution 29:

The education and training sector is gradually overcoming difficulties and challenges, innovating, developing, and achieving many important achievements. On November 4, 2013, the 11th Party Central Committee issued Resolution No. 29-NQ/TW “On fundamental and comprehensive innovation of education and training, meeting the requirements of industrialization and modernization in the context of a socialist-oriented market economy and international integration” (Resolution 29).

2023 marks 10 years of implementing Resolution 29. After 10 years of implementation, the Party's major viewpoints and orientations on fundamental and comprehensive innovation of education and training in Resolution 29 are correct, consistent with the world's educational development trend and our country's development practices.

In the context of the country facing many difficulties and limited investment resources for education and training innovation, however, with the regular and close leadership and direction of the Party, the National Assembly, the Government, the effective coordination of central and local departments, ministries and branches, especially with the efforts of teachers and education managers at all levels, after 10 years of implementing Resolution 29, education and training in our country have made great strides and achieved many important achievements, contributing greatly to improving people's knowledge, developing human resources, nurturing talents; making important contributions to the country's socio-economic development and international integration.

Implementing the assignment of the Politburo, the Party Committee of the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) has chaired and closely coordinated with the Central Propaganda Department and relevant agencies to summarize 10 years of implementing Resolution 29, ensuring proper procedures, quality and efficiency, with unity from the central to local levels.

The draft project summarizing Resolution 29 clearly identified the important achievements of fundamental and comprehensive innovation in education and training over the past 10 years. At the same time, it fully assessed the difficulties, obstacles, existing limitations and proposed orientations for the development of education and training in the next period in accordance with the international context and the socio-economic development conditions of the country. From there, it advised the Politburo to issue a directive document to create a breakthrough in fundamental and comprehensive innovation in education and training until 2030, with a vision to 2045 in the spirit of the Resolution of the 13th National Congress of the Party.

2. Promoting education and training development in 6 socio-economic regions: realizing the Politburo's resolution on regional development

In order to create a new, strong and breakthrough change in the development of 6 socio-economic regions (Northern Midlands and Mountains; Red River Delta; North Central and Central Coast; Central Highlands; Southeast; Mekong River Delta), the 13th Politburo issued a Resolution on socio-economic development and ensuring national defense and security in the regions until 2030, with a vision to 2045 for the six socio-economic regions in the country. The Government issued an Action Program to implement the resolutions.

Implementing the Politburo's resolution and the Government's Action Program, in 2023, the Ministry of Education and Training organized 6 conferences on education and training development in 6 socio-economic regions to discuss in depth, correctly assess the situation, and unify solutions for education and training development in the regions, thereby making an important contribution to the successful implementation of the goals and tasks set out in the Politburo's resolution.

The conferences were held with the participation of thousands of delegates representing the Government, ministries, branches, and committees of the National Assembly; representatives of local leaders; local departments, branches, and sectors; experts; and higher education institutions, general schools, etc.

Delegates attending the conference discussed and identified the educational picture of each region; exchanged and shared experiences on what has been done in the past and proposed solutions to develop regional education until 2030, with a vision to 2045.

The conferences show the interest of localities in education and training; the understanding and sharing of ministries, branches and central agencies to accompany and support localities to successfully implement the goals of education and training development. Along with the 6 conferences, the Ministry of Education and Training also issued 6 action plans to identify tasks and solutions for education and training development in 6 socio-economic regions.

3. Mid-term assessment of the implementation of the 2018 General Education Program: promoting achievements, overcoming difficulties, and persevering with innovation goals

2023 marks the halfway point of implementing teaching and learning according to the 2018 General Education Program. The Ministry of Education and Training has chaired the development of a mid-term assessment report on the implementation of the 2018 General Education Program to review the results achieved, advantages, difficulties, obstacles, causes and propose solutions to improve the effectiveness of implementing the 2018 General Education Program in the following years.

Halfway through the journey, it is evident that the implementation of the innovation of general education programs and textbooks has initially created very positive changes, shifting from a content-based education program to a competency-based one, changing teaching methods, testing methods, and evaluating learning outcomes.

The 2018 general education program initially demonstrated its suitability to practical conditions regarding the teaching staff, school facilities, technology, and students' ability to absorb through more than four years of teaching and learning in: grades 1, 2, 3 (primary school), grades 6, 7 (middle school), and grade 10 (high school).

In addition to the clear results, the first half of the implementation of the 2018 General Education Program has also revealed many difficulties and limitations due to objective and subjective reasons. The implementation process also shows that central and local levels and sectors are gradually removing difficulties and limitations.

“Promoting achievements and persevering with the goal of innovation” will be important keywords in the next half of the implementation of the 2018 General Education Program.

Of which, 4 groups of solutions have been specified in the mid-term assessment report of the Ministry of Education and Training, including: Continuing to develop the 2018 general education program; continuing to implement solutions to improve the quality of textbooks, ensuring enough textbooks; focusing on training and fostering to improve the quality of teachers and education managers at all levels; ensuring investment and regular expenditures for education according to regulations.

4. Approval of new textbooks: ensuring quality and appraisal according to plan

One of the important tasks of the Ministry of Education and Training when implementing the 2018 General Education Program is to approve textbooks for subjects that ensure quality and are in accordance with the plan. By the end of 2023, this task has been completed by the Ministry of Education and Training.

Up to now, textbooks implementing the 2018 General Education Program have been fully ensured according to the prescribed roadmap. The content and quality of textbooks meet the requirements, have been innovated in the direction of streamlining, increasing practice, and applying knowledge to practice. New textbooks help students easily access lessons with beautiful, easy-to-understand text and image channels. Designed and presented with diverse activities to help teachers easily teach, orienting teachers to choose plans, forms of organization and active teaching methods. Promoting students' initiative, positivity, creativity, and self-study ability. Increasing interaction in teaching and learning between teachers and students, students and students.

The selection of textbooks is guided and adjusted by the Ministry of Education and Training according to the provisions of the 2019 Education Law. Localities deploy and apply flexibly according to the conditions of each locality. Educational institutions have followed the correct procedures according to the instructions of the Ministry of Education and Training, ensuring publicity and democracy in the selection of textbooks. The supply and distribution of textbooks are carried out by publishers in a variety of ways and channels. Localities closely coordinate with publishers to provide timely quantities of textbooks for each school year.

5. Determining the high school graduation exam plan from 2025: The mark of innovation

On November 28, 2023, the Ministry of Education and Training issued Decision No. 4068/QD-BGDDT approving the "Plan for organizing the Exam and considering recognition of high school graduation from 2025". This plan has been widely announced to the whole society.

According to the plan, the content of the high school graduation exam from 2025 will closely follow the content of the 2018 General Education Program. Candidates will take compulsory exams in literature, math and 2 subjects that candidates can choose from the remaining subjects studied in grade 12 (foreign language, history, physics, chemistry, biology, geography, economic and legal education, information technology, technology).

The high school graduation exam plan from 2025 is developed systematically and scientifically; closely following the policies of the Party, the National Assembly, the Government and the legal regulations of the State and the education and training sector related to the organization of exams to ensure the organization of exams and recognition of high school graduation; absorbing international achievements and experiences in innovating high school graduation exams.

The process of developing and collecting opinions on the exam plan is carried out seriously and responsibly on both a broad and in-depth basis. The opinions exchanged and analyzed by experts, managers, teachers, students, parents and the people are an important channel for the Ministry of Education and Training to perfect the plan, meeting the wishes of the majority of society.

Along with the exam plan, the Ministry of Education and Training has also announced the exam format structure of the High School Graduation Exam from 2025 as a basis for schools, teachers, and students to refer to for the teaching and learning process.

In the coming time, the Ministry of Education and Training will continue to implement the work and tasks according to plan so that the implementation of the High School Graduation Exam Plan from 2025 ensures the requirements and progress set out.

6. Developing and caring for the teaching staff: innovating policies, supplementing staff, caring for and looking after teachers' lives

Continuing the efforts to develop and care for the teaching staff that have been made before, 2023 continues to show many marks in this work.

The National Assembly's Resolution on implementing the new salary policy from July 1, 2023 - raising the basic salary for cadres, civil servants and public employees to 1.8 million VND/month has helped improve teachers' salaries and incomes, thereby helping teachers to partly ensure their lives and feel secure in their profession. On September 25, 2023, the Government issued Decree 85/2023/ND-CP amending a number of articles of Decree 115/2020/ND-CP on recruitment and management of civil servants.

Accordingly, the exam for promotion of professional titles was officially abolished and replaced with the exam for promotion. The abolition of the exam for promotion of civil servants has helped eliminate practical problems and is consistent with the wishes of the majority of teachers.

In 2023, the Ministry of Education and Training issued Circular No. 08/TT-BGDDT amending and supplementing a number of articles of Circulars No. 01/2021/TT-BGDDT, 02/2021/TT-BGDDT, 3/2021/TT-BGDDT and 04/2021/TT-BGDDT dated February 2, 2021 of the Ministry of Education and Training stipulating codes, professional title standards and appointment and salary arrangement for teaching staff in public preschool and general education institutions.

Many new points of Circular 08 have overcome previous limitations, creating favorable conditions and motivation for the teaching staff. Continuing to implement the Politburo's decision on assigning additional teacher positions to localities in the period of 2022 - 2026, in 2024, localities will continue to be assigned to add 27,800 teacher positions, contributing to solving the shortage of teachers in preschools and general schools.

In particular, on July 7, 2023, the Government issued Resolution No. 95/NQ-CP; in which the Ministry of Education and Training was assigned to coordinate with ministries and branches to submit to the National Assembly to promulgate the Law on Teachers, creating conditions to create and develop the teaching staff, enhance the position of teachers and the education sector.

Currently, the Ministry of Education and Training - the assigned unit - is actively coordinating with relevant ministries, branches and agencies to draft the Law on Teachers, ensuring progress and quality.

7. Meeting over a million teachers nationwide: sharing, consensus, determination to innovate education

On August 15, 2023, Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son had an online meeting with over one million teachers nationwide. This was the first time this activity was organized. Before taking place, through the channel of the Vietnam Education Trade Union, more than 6,300 questions were sent to the minister, showing the interest and desire of teachers to talk and listen to direct answers from the head of the industry about issues that are close to the team.

At the meeting, a series of opinions and questions related to teacher policies such as standards, salaries, and allowances for teachers; regulations on retirement age for teachers; specific policies for preschool teachers; policies and job positions for staff in schools; regulations on university autonomy; policies on investment in scientific research; university education infrastructure, etc. were sent by teachers to the minister.

During a certain period of time, the Minister discussed and answered many wishes and opinions of teachers. The opinions and questions of teachers were also fully received to be answered in other forms and were the basis for policy adjustment.

Sharing at the meeting, Minister Nguyen Kim Son affirmed: The leaders of the Ministry of Education and Training determined that developing the teaching staff is the most important, fundamental, sustainable and decisive factor to complete the task of innovation and improve the quality of education. Developing the teaching staff is the solution of all solutions. Teachers are the most valuable asset of our industry. The leaders of the Ministry will try to do everything and every measure to be able to improve the position, develop the teaching staff, and innovate the teaching staff.

8. Actively and proactively transform digitally: Fully digitize education sector databases and connect with national databases

In 2023, the education sector will for the first time put into use the higher education database (HEMIS), including online enrollment on HEMIS. The Hemis system has been seamlessly connected to the national insurance database and synchronized data on workers and employment.

To date, the Ministry of Education and Training has synchronized data on workers and jobs of over 97,000 students graduating in 2022 and nearly 7,400 students graduating in 2023.

Previously, databases on preschool education, general education, and continuing education were fully reviewed, collected, cleaned, and connected to national databases on population, insurance, civil servants, and public employees to serve national digital transformation.

To date, the Ministry of Education and Training has authenticated and identified nearly 24.21/25 million electronic records of citizens who are teachers and students; synchronized and enriched the population information data (specialized in education and training) of more than 24 million citizens who are teachers, managers and students in the education sector.

9. Launch a national movement to compete in building a learning society and promote lifelong learning.

On June 10, 2023, the Ministry of Education and Training chaired and coordinated with the Vietnam Association for Promoting Education and relevant agencies to organize the Launching Ceremony of the Movement "The whole country competes to build a learning society, promote lifelong learning in the period 2023-2030".

The launching ceremony aims to continue promoting the strength of the entire political system in propagating and raising awareness among all classes of people about the role, significance and necessity of lifelong learning and building a learning society.

The Project “Building a Learning Society” was approved by the Prime Minister and implemented since 2005 in the periods and stages of 2005 - 2010, 2012 - 2020 and 2021 - 2030. The implementation of these Projects has brought about many important results. However, in the actual implementation process, it has shown that there are still limitations and barriers to building a learning society in Vietnam.

After the launching ceremony, ministries, departments, branches, socio-political organizations, professional organizations, social organizations, provinces and cities will deploy emulation deeply, widely and regularly, so that the entire political system and all people respond to the Movement "The whole country competes to build a learning society, promote lifelong learning in the period of 2023 - 2030", contributing to the development of human resources to serve the country's development.

10. Maintain the top 10 countries with the highest results in international Olympic competitions

2023 continues to mark a successful year for key education, as Vietnamese student teams participating in international and regional Olympics continuously bring home high achievements.

7 student delegations participated in regional and international Olympics with 36 students participating, including: 1 IT delegation participating in Asia-Pacific Olympics, 1 physics delegation participating in Asia Olympics and 5 delegations participating in international Olympics: math, chemistry, biology, physics and IT.

Vietnamese student delegations have brought home excellent results, all contestants of the participating delegations won prizes, with 8 gold medals, 12 silver medals, 12 bronze medals and 4 certificates of merit. Vietnamese student delegations competing in 2023 continue to maintain their achievements in the top 10 countries with the highest results, many students achieved the highest scores.

In the past 5 years, 174 students have participated in international and regional Olympiads in mathematics, chemistry, physics, biology, and informatics, winning 170 medals and certificates of merit. Of these, 54 were gold medals, 68 were silver medals, 40 were bronze medals, and 8 were certificates of merit.