Over 30 million students enter new academic year

The event, held from 8:00 to 9:30 a.m. at the National Convention Center in Ha Noi, was connected online to all educational institutions nationwide, from preschools to universities, both public and private. This year's ceremony coincided with the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the Ministry of National Education, now the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET).

According to the MoET, for the first time ever, teachers, pupils, and students from all schools across the country saluted the national flag and sang the national anthem simultaneously, creating a shared sense of unity and pride on the first day of the school year.

The 2025–2026 academic year marks an especially important milestone. It takes place as Viet Nam implements the two-tier local government model, and is the first year of carrying out the Resolution of the 14th National Party Congress and the National Assembly's five-year socio-economic development plan for 2026–2030.

It is also the first school year of nationwide implementation of key new policies, including the Politburo's Resolution on breakthroughs in education and training development, the newly adopted Law on Teachers, tuition exemption and support measures for preschool and general education students, and the National Assembly's Resolution on universal preschool education for children aged 3 to 5.

Unprecedented opportunities

Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son said that "This school year, the education sector is facing unprecedented opportunities. Never before has education and training received as much attention and expectation from the Party and the State as it does now."

He highlighted Politburo Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW, issued during the 80th anniversaries of National Day and the education sector, as a reaffirmation of the Party's special attention to education. The Resolution, he said, underscores the view that education and training is a top national policy and a decisive factor in the country's development and future.

As digital technology and artificial intelligence are reshaping education globally, the Resolution lays out a new strategic vision for Viet Nam's education system, setting ambitious objectives and breakthrough measures to elevate its quality and competitiveness.

Building on earlier reforms initiated by Resolution No. 29-NQ/TW and Conclusion No. 91-KL/TW, the new policies are expected to accelerate fundamental and comprehensive changes in the sector. A national target program on education and training development is also in the works.

In addition, four major education-related laws — the Law on Teachers, the Education Law, the Higher Education Law, and the amended Vocational Education Law — are expected to be enacted this year, providing a stronger legal framework for a modern, consistent, and effective education system.

The Ministry is also prioritizing digital transformation, artificial intelligence applications, and the expansion of STEM education, aiming to prepare Vietnamese students for a rapidly changing global environment.

Despite the positive outlook, Minister Nguyen acknowledged that the education sector faces a number of pressing challenges. These include managing organizational and personnel changes under the two-tier local government model, ensuring educational equity, addressing issues related to private tutoring, and improving the recruitment and rotation of teachers.

"For the entire education sector, this is a great opportunity to make breakthroughs and to affirm education's decisive role in national development," the Minister affirmed, while also calling for determined efforts to overcome obstacles.