Senior officials of the Party and State participated in ceremonies on September 4 at various schools throughout the country on the occasion of the beginning of the new academic year.

President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front’s Central Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan visited Nguyen Thien Thanh High School for Gifted Students in the southern province of Tra Vinh, where all students graduate and 80 percent go on to university.

On this occasion, Nhan awarded 271 scholarships worth 425 million VND (19,975 USD) to disadvantaged local students.

He then participated in the inauguration of new dormitories at Tra Vinh University. The building can accommodate 3,500 students, with priority given to students from difficult backgrounds and members of the Khmer ethnic group.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc addressed the teachers and students at Lang Sen primary school in Kim Lien commune, Nam Dan district, in the central province of Nghe An – the late President Ho Chi Minh’s homelands – and expressed his hope that they continue to strive towards better teaching and learning achievements in the 2014-2015 academic year.

Phuc also granted scholarships to 20 outstanding students.

That same day, Dinh The Huynh, Politburo member and Head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Education and Popularisation, attended the opening ceremony at Hoang Van Thu High School for Gifted Students in the northern province of Hoa Binh.

Meanwhile, National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong visited a number of schools in Muong Chanh commune, Mai Son district, in the mountainous northern province of Son La.-VNA