Hanoi (VNA) – One of the highlights of the Politburo’s Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW on education and training is a shift in mindset, guiding institutions, management, policy and actions, according to Pro. Dr. Hoang Van Cuong, Vice Chairman of the State Council of Professors.
Prof. Cuong, deputy to the 15th National Assembly and former Vice Rector of the National University of Economics, said Resolution 71 aims to address the fundamental issues plaguing Vietnam’s education sector, from outdated teaching methods and insufficient investment to a lack of innovation in educational management.
Resolution 71 calls for a comprehensive overhaul of governance and institutional frameworks. The resolution's emphasis on education as the country’s top policy marks a pivotal moment for Vietnam’s educational future, he stated.
While the resolution sets bold targets, including making Vietnam’s education system a leading force in Asia by 2030 and having at least five Vietnamese universities in the top 100 globally by 2045, the road to achieving these goals is far from simple.
Vietnam has already made notable strides, with some universities already appearing in the QS World University Rankings. The latest PISA rankings also place Vietnam 34th globally and second in ASEAN, providing a solid foundation for the ambitious targets outlined in the Resolution. With sustained effort and decisive solutions, these goals are entirely achievable, setting the country on track to becoming a prosperous, strong, and happy nation.
Resolution 71 also advocates for a significant boost in investment, particularly for teachers. This includes proposed teacher allowances, aimed at improving the quality of education by offering incentives to educators while also providing better support for administrative staff.
Furthermore, the resolution mandates that at least 5% of the national budget should be allocated to basic infrastructure development, with at least 3% dedicated to higher education, demonstrating a strong commitment to providing modern educational facilities. These initiatives will help meet the growing demand for a skilled workforce capable of driving the nation’s development.
However, Prof. Cuong said that despite previous attempts, such as the 20% education budget target, which has often gone unmet, ensuring that Resolution 71’s financial goals are realised remains a challenge.
The resolution focuses on specific measures to attract social investment. The mechanisms outlined in Resolution 71 are designed to attract greater social investment, with incentives like tax exemptions for educational institutions.
However, the success of these measures will depend on a well-defined institutional framework that ensures resources are used effectively and ethically. This framework must also encourage active participation from families, communities, and private enterprises in building a learning environment that benefits all, he underlined.
One of the key components of Resolution 71 is its focus on holistic education, which seeks to develop not only the intellectual but also the physical, cultural, and moral facets of students. As Vietnam positions itself for the future, this vision includes the integration of traditional values with those necessary for global competitiveness. Core values such as patriotism, national pride, discipline, and innovation are essential, but so too is the capacity to embrace modern challenges and global opportunities.
Ultimately, the success of Resolution 71 will rest on the creation of a robust institutional framework that aligns national education goals with local management practices and financial structures. Achieving this will require a collective effort from all sectors of society, from government bodies to educational institutions and beyond. Only with broad societal involvement and a commitment to systemic change can Vietnam’s education system hope to achieve the vision laid out in Resolution 71, realising its goal of becoming a beacon of global excellence, he concluded./.
