Teachers are the heart of the education system.

Attending the meeting were Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam; leaders of the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, the Vietnam Education Trade Union and 60 outstanding teachers from all regions across the country.

Reporting to the Prime Minister at the meeting, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Pham Ngoc Thuong said that education is a common cause of the Party, the State and the whole society, but the people who directly carry out this noble task are teachers. Therefore, teachers always have an important position in society, and are honored and entrusted by society.

Over the past time, the team of teachers and educational administrators at all levels has continuously grown, and the quality has been constantly improved. Many teachers are not afraid of difficulties, even sacrificing their youth, staying in their villages every day to sow knowledge for students in remote areas, areas with especially difficult socio-economic conditions.

Teachers with a sense of responsibility and enthusiasm have been active, proactive, self-studying, self-training to improve their professional qualifications, constantly innovating in teaching, making an important contribution to training human resources, nurturing talents, inspiring the young generation, the future owners of the country. However, there are still some difficulties and problems in the development of the teaching staff that need to be further addressed and resolved.

Speaking at the meeting, teachers expressed their pride in carrying out the mission of "cultivating people" and showed their determination to strive to maintain political will, sense of responsibility, enthusiasm, and dedication to the profession; always upholding the ethics and style of teachers and for the sake of beloved students.

The teachers brought to the meeting many stories that were not only imbued with the love between teachers and students but also demonstrated noble humanity; showing that teachers are not only symbols of intelligence but also of character.

In addition, teachers also shared about the difficulties that they and their colleagues are experiencing. Accordingly, life is still difficult; the shortage of teachers has not been completely resolved; the educational environment is facing many impacts, causing pressure on teachers, especially in behavior.

In particular, many teachers expressed their concerns about the country's education, especially in an era of rapid scientific and technological development, in line with the Party's policy of "education is the top national policy" and human resource training is one of the three strategic breakthroughs.

Speaking at the meeting, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stated that to build the country, education must first be developed. To govern the country, talented people must be respected. The country and nation must develop based on the human factor, taking people as the center, the goal and the driving force. To develop people, education and training must be based on education. Education is the top national policy in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland. If the education and training system is to operate well and effectively, teachers are the ones who play a decisive role.

The Prime Minister emphasized that, through thousands of years of building and defending the country, the tradition of studiousness and respect for teachers has become a precious asset of the nation and of every Vietnamese person. During his lifetime, the great President Ho Chi Minh, a world cultural celebrity, a “Great Teacher” always promoted and paid attention to education. He once said: “Educating the next generation of revolutionaries is a very important and necessary task…”; “…Every Vietnamese person must understand their rights and duties, must have new knowledge to be able to participate in the cause of national construction…”.

Over the years, our Party and State have always considered education and training as the top national policy; investment in education has been given priority in socio-economic development programs and plans. Many policies and strategies for education and training development have been issued and effectively implemented, making extremely important contributions to the cause of national construction and defense, building the foundation, potential, position and international prestige of our country today.

According to the Prime Minister, if in 1945, more than 95% of the population was illiterate, today, Vietnam is assessed by the World Bank as one of two countries (Vietnam and China) with truly impressive development and pioneering in education and training innovation. Thinking and awareness about education have many positive changes. The quality of education is increasingly improved at all levels of education. Vocational education is increasingly developing in terms of scale, quantity and quality of training.

The Prime Minister expressed and affirmed that the Government always understands, sympathizes, and shares the difficulties, hardships, and challenges of the education and training sector in general and teachers in particular, especially the severe impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the impacts of economic difficulties in the world affecting Vietnam.

The Head of Government said that the world situation is facing many difficulties and complications. Although our macro-economic foundation is basically stable, major balances are guaranteed, etc., there are still many difficulties and challenges that we must overcome, requiring the solidarity and unity of the entire nation, turning danger into opportunity. “Our history has proven that the more difficult and complicated the situation is, the more united and determined we are to overcome it; I believe that the teaching staff will be united and strive to overcome all difficulties,” the Prime Minister emphasized.

According to the Prime Minister, education and training is a common cause of the whole society. Family, school and society must be considered as a "triangle", a pillar, and must be closely coordinated. Therefore, it is necessary to continue to thoroughly implement the motto "school is the foundation, students are the center, teachers are the driving force"; focus on developing students' moral character and creativity; help students form a personality of love; develop education and training to adhere to the principles of accepting differences, respecting diversity, encouraging creativity, exploration, and start-up movements; absorb national and human knowledge, critical thinking, aspiration to contribute, and maximize the potential, intelligence, and qualities of each student.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested ministries, sectors, agencies and localities to continue to pay more attention and investment, provide more practical and effective support for education; focus on existing resources and increase the mobilization of resources to invest in school facilities, especially kitchens, school health care, and toilet systems; and have effective solutions to improve the quality and policies for teachers and staff working in education and training. "This requires us to have appropriate policies to ensure minimum requirements, balance with other professions, and encourage talented people to study pedagogy," the Prime Minister reminded.

Along with that, the Prime Minister requested to continue to care for the material and spiritual life of the teaching staff, especially preschool teachers, those working in remote, isolated, and disadvantaged areas, teachers teaching in arduous and hazardous professions... The Government will have solutions, and at the same time hope that sectors and localities will restructure the teaching staff.

“Teaching is the noblest of all noble professions, the most creative of all creative professions. Teachers are the driving force and heart of the education system,” Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh shared; at the same time, he reiterated the teachings of beloved Uncle Ho: “Teachers must pay attention to both talent and virtue. Talent is culture, expertise, virtue is politics. If we want students to have virtue, teachers must have virtue... therefore, teachers must be exemplary...”.

Not forgetting the work of protecting the health of students, the Prime Minister hopes that teachers will participate in the work of mobilizing students to get vaccinated against COVID-19; the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education and Training will closely coordinate in this work, vaccinating children safely, scientifically and effectively, ensuring that students can go to school safely and study with peace of mind.

The Head of Government requested the Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs to have a plan to replicate advanced models such as the 60 typical teachers at the meeting; initiatives, good practices, appropriate and effective methods of dedicated, creative and inspiring teachers in teaching, bringing practical results in the education career, creating a movement of good teaching and good learning, suitable to the situation and conditions of our country.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the 60 exemplary teachers at the meeting are the nucleus to replicate and spread good practices and positive things throughout the country, creating a combined strength and new impetus for development towards the goal of a rich people, a strong country, a fair, democratic, civilized society, and a prosperous and prosperous country.

The Prime Minister also hopes that teachers will continue to apply high technology in teaching; equip them with knowledge related to life skills, vocational skills, and activities to adapt to unusual conditions; and summarize these issues so that this work can be carried out systematically.

At the end of his speech, the Prime Minister hoped that all teachers, for the sake of education and beloved students, would stand shoulder to shoulder to bring the Education and Training sector, in difficult conditions and in a transforming economy, to develop on par with the country's position and role, and to meet the requirements of developing a strong country and a prosperous and happy people.

According to VNA