Resolution No. 71 of the Politburo: Expectations for breakthrough development in education and training

Students take part in the STEM Festival at Xuan Truong Primary School (Xuan Loc commune) in March 2025.

With the consistent view that “education and training is the top national policy, determining the future of the nation,” the implementation of Resolution 71 will make an important contribution to the sustainable development and prosperity of the country.

During the summer political training session for high schools’ management boards on August 28, the provincial Department of Education and Training (DoET) updated Resolution 71 to all high school education managers across the province.

Reflecting on the provisions in Resolution 71, it’s evident that Dong Nai’s education and training sector over the years has proactively invested in and renewed education, while offering specific preferential policies consistent with the spirit of Resolution 71. These can be considered major advantages for the province as it embarks on the implementation of Resolution 71.

Accordingly, the Resolution 71 sets out key tasks and solutions, including: comprehensive digital transformation, universal application of digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI) in education; ensuring adequate facilities and equipment, with priority given to practice classrooms, STEM/STEAM spaces, playgrounds, and physical training environments; strengthening foreign language teaching, gradually making English the second language in schools while introducing languages of neighboring countries; and joining international organizations for quality assurance and educational development.

In Dong Nai, the movement to apply information technology in teaching and learning has been actively expanded, with recent emphasis on training how to use AI for management and teaching. From this initiative, many teachers in Dong Nai have been recognized as Microsoft Innovative Educator Experts, while schools such as Tam Phuoc Secondary School and the IGC Group’s Le Quy Don Primary, Middle and High School have been named Microsoft Showcase Schools. As AI applications become more widespread, most schools in the province have taken the initiative to organize teacher training.

Notably, during the past summer, FPT Polytechnic College in Dong Nai hosted several AI training sessions for teachers across the province. Although classes were held in Tran Bien ward, many teachers from remote areas voluntarily registered and traveled on their own to attend. Phung Thi Thanh Tam, Vice Principal of Phuoc Thien High School in Nhon Trach commune, shared that after teachers attended the basic AI course, the school would continue to organize training for the entire teaching staff to ensure consistent and effective application.

For requirements on enhancing English teaching, the provincial People’s Committee has already approved a project to strengthen English teaching in schools from the 2022-2023 academic year. Several schools have proactively taught subjects in English, including An Hao Primary School and Ngo Quyen High School in Tran Bien ward. Most recently, Member of the Provincial Standing Committee and Vice Chairman of Dong Nai People’s Committee Le Truong Son directed the DoET to propose a thematic policy going beyond current regulations to enhance foreign language competence for students. Furthermore, Dong Nai has also piloted Korean language teaching at the high school level.

Regarding the demand for STEM/STEAM education enhancement, schools from primary to high school levels have been implementing this activity for years. Some schools have received state-of-the-art STEM labs worth billions of dong, while in remote areas, STEM education activities are adapted to lower costs using recycled materials. STEM fairs have been organized at school and cluster levels, creating excitement among students.

Regarding preferential policies for teachers, in July 2024, the 10th Dong Nai Provincial People’s Council approved a support policy for teachers working at public educational institutions across the province until 2025. Accordingly, the province provides a monthly support of VND 2 million per person for preschool teachers at public educational institutions, as well as teachers working at public centers for children with disabilities. A support of VND 1.5 million per month will be given to public school teachers in hard-to-recruit subjects and those working at public educational institutions in difficult-to-recruit areas. The support will be provided for a maximum of nine months per school year, with the total estimated budget of about VND195 billion.

 A “spiritual boost” for teachers

Although the opening ceremony of the new school year was over, Hoac Cong Son, Principal of Dieu Cai High School in La Nga commune, said he still felt deeply moved for many reasons. Most importantly, Resolution 71 not only affirms that education is the top national policy but also underscores it as the decisive factor for the nation’s destiny. The Principal has shared the resolution content with the school’s teachers ahead of the new academic year.

Dieu Cai High School currently has over 1,200 students, more than 15% of whom are from ethnic minorities (mainly Cho Ro, Ma, Muong, and Hoa). As the school is located in a remote, ethnic minority area, teachers are hopeful that they will benefit from Resolution 71’s preferential policies — such as a minimum 70% professional allowance for preschool and general teachers, 30% for school staff, and 100% for teachers in extremely disadvantaged, border, and island areas.

Dak A Primary School in Bu Gia Map border commune has nearly 500 students, over 80% of whom are ethnic minority people. Given the difficult local living conditions, families have limited capacity to support their children’s education. Teachers and parents were therefore encouraged by Resolution 71’s target to “complete the construction of boarding school networks for ethnic minority, disadvantaged, and border areas by 2030.” In recent times, Dong Nai province has been very proactive in pursuing this goal. Following a DoET survey, most parents agreed with the plan to upgrade the school and introduce semi-boarding services.

Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh, a teacher at Dak A Primary School, expressed her joy: If semi-boarding is organized, then parents will not need to spend time transporting their children, and teachers will feel reassured knowing students are safe at school. “Here, teachers hardly have any income beyond their salary, so receiving a 100% allowance would mean a lot. With this additional support, we can better assist our students.” Anh expressed.

“Our country is standing before a historic opportunity for breakthrough development. Building human capacity and resources has become an urgent requirement, demanding the education and training sector to achieve development breakthroughs and foster a new generation of Vietnamese people who are patriotic and proud of their nation, equipped with sufficient courage, intelligence, competence, qualifications, and good health to meet the requirements of national construction, development, and defense in the new stage of development.

(excerpt from Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW)

Sharing further, Principal Hoac Cong Son described Resolution No. 71 as a “spiritual boost” for education managers and teachers alike, a powerful source of encouragement to drive comprehensive reform. However, he emphasized that the Resolution No. 71 also sets out a very crucial mission: education managers and teachers must continuously innovate their thinking and methods, sharpen their professional skills, and uphold professional ethics to elevate Vietnamese education to par with leading systems worldwide. Only then can the spirit of the resolution be fulfilled. Moreover, with improved salaries and allowances, teachers will be able to fully dedicate themselves to their mission.

By: Hai Yen

Translated by: M.Nguyet-Thu Ha