Vietnam Unifies New School Year Opening Ceremony with Flag Raising and Drumming Nationwide

Vietnam's Ministry of Education and Training has announced a nationwide synchronized opening ceremony for the 2026-2027 academic year. This opening ceremony will introduce flag raising and drumming as common programs. The ministry also plans to inaugurate boarding schools in border areas simultaneously. This decision is seen as part of the Vietnamese government's efforts to improve the quality of education and equalize educational opportunities, especially in economically disadvantaged and remote areas. The development of boarding schools is a crucial measure to ensure that students living in distant locations can receive quality education. By celebrating the start of the academic year with a unified national event, Vietnam aims to foster a sense of national unity and increase public interest in education. Flag raising is considered to cultivate patriotism, while drumming symbolizes the vibrant opening of the new school year. Meanwhile, it has been clarified that Hanoi will not implement free textbook distribution from the new academic year. Additionally, large-scale transfers of principals and vice-principals following school mergers, the utilization of 800 new classrooms in Hanoi, and the Ministry of Education's plan to reduce the number of universities and vocational schools are also progressing concurrently. These developments suggest that Vietnam is pursuing structural reforms aimed at improving the efficiency and quality of its entire education system. Under its one-party system, the government positions education as a foundation for national development and is focusing on its strengthening. Source: Nhan Dan