Senior leaders attend school year beginning ceremonies

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on September 5 beat the drum to kick off the 2019-2020 academic year at Son Tay High School in Hanoi’s outlying Son Tay township. (Photo: VNA)

Speaking at the ceremony, PM Phuc congratulated the school on achievements it has recorded over the past 60 years, and lauded its efforts in renovating teaching and learning methods.

The Party and State always pay attention to education and training, he affirmed, noting his hope that the sector, including the Son Tay High School, will contribute more to national construction.

Apart from official subjects, the school should place more importance on teaching morals, lifestyle and life skills, thus promoting comprehensive development of students, PM Phuc said.

The same day, Party and State leaders attended school year staring ceremonies at educational institutions in mountainous provinces.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, representatives of the Government Office and the Ministry of Education and Training, and leaders of Bac Giang province joined teachers and students of Thang Town Primary School in Hiep Hoa district at the school year beginning ceremony.

Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly Tong Thi Phong was also present at a similar ceremony of Hoang Van Thu High School in Yen Bai province.

President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Tran Thanh Man attended the ceremony of Da Bac Boarding Secondary and High School for Ethnic Minority Students in Hoa Binh province.

On this occasion, he handed over 15 gift packages worth 30 million VND (1,290 USD) to poor students with outstanding academic achievements and five guitars to the school.

More than 24 million students across the country began the 2019-2020 academic year following brief ceremonies on September 5.

Almost all educational establishments nationwide removed the balloons from their traditions in response to the ‘say no to plastic waste’ campaign.

The ceremonies, however, went on as usual with saluting the national flag, singing the national anthem, reading the State President’s letter on the occasion, beating the drum, and a series of musical performances and sport events.

According to estimates from the Ministry of Education and Training, this new academic year welcomes over 5.5 million kindergarteners, more than 17 million primary, secondary, and high school students, as well as over 1.5 million undergraduates.

The education sector will continue applying measures to fulfill its goals set for 2016 – 2020 and address pressing issues that have caused public concern.