The Party and State of Vietnam always cared for the development of education and considered it a top priority in the country’s development strategy, and a decisive element for poverty reduction, industrialisation and sustainable development.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung made this statement at a new school year opening ceremony at the 115-year-old Quoc Hoc Hue for gifted students high school in the imperial city of Hue , Thua Thien-Hue province on Sept. 2.

Thanks to the due attention and efforts of teachers, as well as the entire society, the country’s education sector had seen significant development, with improvements in the education system and special attention to education in ethnic inhabited and difficult areas, he said.

However, he pointed out shortcomings and weaknesses in the sector, particularly in areas with difficult socio-economic conditions.

He stressed the special significance of the 2011-2012 academic year, saying that this was the first school year the sector would implement the 11 th Party Congress Resolution and the education development strategy for the 2011-2020 period, with a focus on rapid development of human resources and fundamental and comprehensive modernisation of the national education system.

The education sector, including the Thua Thien-Hue service, should promptly build and carry out the action programme to implement the 11 th Party Congress Resolution in education and training, he said.

At the event, he praised the efforts and achievements of the provincial education and training sector, especially the Quoc Hoc Hue school, in recent years.

Established in 1896, Quoc Hoc Hue high school had a proud tradition, with President Ho Chi Minh among many senior officials and scientists of the Party and State who studied and taught there./.