From the Party’s guideline and State’s policy
Human resources are the key factor determining the success or failure of a nation. Beloved President Ho Chi Minh profoundly advised: “For the benefit of ten years, plant trees; for the benefit of a hundred years, cultivate people.”
Always deeply committed to this viewpoint, the Party and State have considered education and training a top national priority, playing a particularly important role in shaping and developing the personality, qualities, and capabilities of Vietnamese people in the new era. This is the solid foundation and decisive factor for successfully implementing strategic breakthroughs in developing high-quality human resources, serving the cause of building and firmly defending the socialist Fatherland.
For ethnic minority and mountainous regions – border areas rich in revolutionary traditions, where many difficulties and challenges remain – education and training are even more vital and strategic. To achieve rapid and sustainable poverty reduction, narrow the gap in living standards and income compared to the national average, and significantly improve the material and spiritual lives of the people, the children of ethnic minorities must receive a full education, have their intellect broadened, and be nurtured with aspirations to rise up, realise their noble dreams and ambitions, and contribute to building a more prosperous, beautiful, and civilised homeland.
In implementing Resolution No.71-NQ/TW dated August 22, 2025, of the Politburo on breakthroughs in education and training development – a historical document with strategic orientation – the Party has clearly defined the goal by 2030 with specific and decisive targets: expanding equitable access and improving the quality of preschool and general education to reach advanced levels in the Asian region; building a modern network of schools to meet the learning needs of all people and all regions; the education index contributes to the Human Development Index (HDI) by more than 0.85, and the education inequality index has decreased significantly.
In the spirit of the Resolution, investing in infrastructure for educational institutions in ethnic minority and mountainous areas is a strategic investment in social equity and equal access to education. This creates practical conditions for all students, regardless of their background and circumstances, to have a continuous and sustainable learning path, contributing to building a high-quality workforce to meet the requirements of industrialization, modernisation, and deep international integration.
Under the wise leadership of the Party, with the profound concern of the State and the joint efforts of the entire society, along with the effective implementation of the National Target Programme for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the 2021-2030 period, these spacious and modern schools will become a flame illuminating knowledge, igniting the aspirations of the young generation in the highlands, contributing to the successful realisation of the aspiration for a prosperous and happy nation, and helping Viet Nam soon become a developing country with modern industrial development in the socialist direction.
The dedication of those who “sow the seeds of knowledge” in the highlands
For the team of cadres and teachers - the pioneers on the cultural front, directly carrying out the mission of raising the intellectual level of the people in remote, mountainous, and difficult areas - the investment in building spacious and modern educational facilities is an immense source of encouragement, a vivid testament to the profound concern of the Party, the State, and the entire society for the cause of “nurturing human resources” in the border regions of the Fatherland.
Nguyen Thi Lan Phuong, a computer science teacher at Viet Bac High School in the highlands, who has dedicated many years to her school and her ethnic minority students, could not hide her emotion when sharing: “Investing in modern and comprehensive facilities not only solves the long-standing difficulties regarding teaching and learning space, but also serves as a powerful ‘lever’ for us to innovate teaching methods and improve the quality of education. This is a valuable foundation for us teachers to confidently dedicate ourselves, gradually bringing the quality of education in the highlands closer to that of developed regions, contributing to narrowing the knowledge gap between mountainous and lowland areas, and realizing the aspiration for sustainable development of the nation.”
Nguyen Thi Ngoc Yen - a young teacher at the school, shared: “Investing in facilities while improving the quality of education is very encouraging and reassuring. Both teachers and students are happy, excited, and always striving to complete the tasks of the school year well.”
Beyond the joy of the new school buildings, the teachers in the mountainous region also expressed their heartfelt hopes. Many teachers proposed that, along with building spacious school facilities, the Party and State should continue to provide more computers, internet access, and organise training in information technology and artificial intelligence for ethnic minority students. This is a burning desire for them to access advanced knowledge, confidently integrate into the global community, and contribute to building a more prosperous and beautiful homeland.
The aspiration to conquer knowledge of the young generation in the mountainous region
For the students – the red seeds of their villages, the future owners of the country – the new, spacious school is a wide-open door leading to a brighter future, a powerful motivation to ignite their aspirations for advancement.
Vi Nguyen Ha Phuong said emotionally, “When the construction of Viet Bac Highland High School began, I was very happy and moved. I dream that the school will be completed soon so that we can have a more spacious and safer learning environment. I hope to study in well-equipped classrooms with dedicated teachers, so that we can gain more knowledge, confidently pursue our dreams, and become useful members of our families and society in the future.”
Pham The Lam (Viet Bac Highland High School) shared: “When construction began on Viet Bac Highland High School, I hoped to have a spacious school so that students in the highlands could study in better conditions. I dream of going to school every day, having dedicated teachers, and having enough books to acquire knowledge, so that I can excel in my studies and contribute to building a more prosperous and beautiful homeland in the future."”
Luong Ha Trang, with her simple dream, shared: “When construction began on the Viet Bac Highland High School, I dreamed and wished for a spacious and sturdy school to study in, so I wouldn’t have to study in makeshift, inadequate classrooms anymore. I hope to attend school regularly, to be taught literacy and moral values by my teachers, so that in the future I will have the knowledge to build my homeland. I also hope that the school will be a place that connects ethnic minority students, helping us to unite, progress, and become useful members of society.”
Linh Thi Huong Tra (Viet Bac Highland High School), despite coming from a remote village in Lang Son province, still cherishes her dream: “When the construction of Viet Bac Highland High School began, I was filled with emotion and many dreams. I hope the school will be completed soon, becoming a spacious and warm school where students in the highlands no longer have to study in deprived and difficult conditions. I dream that from here, the light of knowledge will illuminate the path for generations of students, helping them nurture their ambitions, persevere through difficulties, and reach for a better future. I hope that Viet Bac Highland High School will not only be a place to impart knowledge, but also a cradle to nurture dreams and cultivate character, so that from these remote villages, generations of students can confidently step out into the world, and then return to build their homeland, contributing to making the Viet Bac highlands increasingly prosperous, beautiful, and civilised.”
These heartfelt and emotional words are a vivid testament to the power of education – the power of knowledge, patriotism, and the aspiration for progress. Under the leadership of the Party, with the joint efforts of the entire society, these new schools and the beautiful dreams of teachers and students in the highlands will continue to be a guiding light, contributing to the successful implementation of the country’s industrialisation and modernisation, and the building of a strong and prosperous Viet Nam.
Expectations for a new look for ethnic minority and mountainous regions
The groundbreaking ceremony for three infrastructure investment projects for specialised schools – Viet Bac Highland High School, Ho Chi Minh City University Preparatory School, and Sam Son Ethnic Minority University Preparatory School – in mid-January this year was not only the laying of the first bricks for building modern facilities, but more profoundly, it was a practical action to build lasting trust and awaken a strong aspiration for progress among ethnic minorities and mountainous regions – the borderlands of the country.
Under the wise leadership of the Party, the profound concern of the State, and the joint efforts of the entire society, the completed highland education projects will become high-quality, modern knowledge centres, contributing effectively to the implementation of the National Target Programme for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the 2021-2030 period.
These new schools will create a safe, friendly, and warm learning environment, helping ethnic minority children develop comprehensively in terms of intellect, physical health, morality, and life skills. This will be a solid foundation for them to confidently integrate, access global knowledge, and help narrow the development gap between mountainous and lowland areas, and between remote and urban areas.
This is a crucial step in preparing high-quality human resources to meet the requirements of sustainable development, successfully achieving the strategic goals of the Party and State, and building a strong and prosperous Viet Nam.
Amidst the vast mountains and the vibrant, rapidly developing cities, the bustling sounds of construction machinery today are like a harmonious symphony of aspirations and unwavering faith. It is a strong affirmation that, under the glorious banner of the Party, the education sector in the highlands will reap abundant fruits, contributing to beautifying the homeland and bringing greater prosperity and happiness to ethnic minorities and people in mountainous areas during this period of reform and integration.
