Discussion "Uncle Ho with School"

Jackie Chan/USSH

Attending the discussion were Prof. Dr. Dinh Van Duc (Chairman of the VNU Former Teachers Association), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Huy Ho (General Secretary of the VNU Former Teachers Association), Prof. Dr. Vu Duong Ninh (Chairman of the VNU Former Teachers Association) and former teachers of the University. On the side of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, there were Prof. Dr. Vu Duc Nghieu (Vice Rector), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dang Xuan Khang (Chairman of the University's Trade Union).

Immediately after the August Revolution in 1945, President Ho Chi Minh proposed three urgent tasks: fighting hunger, fighting illiteracy and fighting foreign invaders. Thus, Uncle Ho considered "illiteracy" to be a danger no less than hunger and foreign invaders. In September 1945, on the first school opening day of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, Uncle Ho sent a letter to all students with the message: "Whether Vietnam becomes beautiful or not, whether the Vietnamese people can step up to the stage of glory to stand shoulder to shoulder with the world powers or not, depends largely on your studies."

During the arduous days of the resistance war against the US, in October 1968, Uncle Ho sent a letter to schools at the beginning of the new school year, reminding them: "No matter how difficult it is, we must continue to compete in teaching well and studying well." This was the last letter Uncle Ho sent to the education sector before he passed away. During the period between those two letters, President Ho Chi Minh mentioned education many times when he visited schools as well as in letters praising individuals or units with good achievements.

Half a century has passed, looking back at Uncle Ho's letters, we still see hidden in them a profound and scientific vision of the role of education in the development of the country, views that are both theoretical and practical on many major contents of education such as: what to learn, what to learn for, how to learn, the role of teachers and learners... Many issues that President Ho mentioned are still intact in their correctness and hot topicality in the current period such as: education reform, building a team of teachers, honesty in education, learning combining theory with practice, practicality in education and training...

At the seminar, analyzing to understand and thoroughly grasp the views, thoughts and visions of the genius leader on one of the most important fields of activity of the country, the delegates had experiences and connections with the current state of education and training of the country, at the same time suggesting many positive solutions to build a modern, high-quality Vietnamese education system and towards integration with the world.

Some specific papers presented at the seminar include: Uncle Ho and the educational reform through his letters; some thoughts on practical viewpoints in Uncle Ho's letters to the education sector; the role of education for students today; suggestions on educational reform through some letters of President Ho on education and training; re-reading Uncle Ho's letters to the education sector and some thoughts on current education and training; necessary conditions for good teaching and good learning at university; according to Uncle Ho's educational viewpoint and some educational issues that need attention at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities...