President Tran Dai Quang attends the 2017-2018 academic year opening ceremony at Trung Vuong Secondary School in Hanoi on September 5, 2017.

More than 22 million students and pupils nationwide began the 2017-2018 academic year on Tuesday. The education sector will continue to concentrate on caring for pre-school children, improving teaching methods, combining theoretical knowledge with practice, combining studies with community service, and matching education and training to labor demand.

The first hours of the 2017-2018 school year at class 10A4 of Nhan Chinh Upper Secondary School in Hanoi

Minister of Education and Training Phung Xuan Nha said: “Many new careers have been formed in a period of rapid economic change. This has challenged the Ministry of Education and Training, the entire education sector, and students, who must change their old ways of thinking to easily access new concepts. Vietnam’s education sector should pay attention to what kinds of workers the market needs to provide appropriate training.”

Nguyen Duc Chung, Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee, visits Thanh Xuan Secondary School on September 5, 2017.

Pham Thi Chi Lan, the parent of a student at Marie Curie Upper Secondary School in Hanoi, said: “On the first day of school, children usually feel happy to be in school with their new teachers and friends. This day makes a profound impression on the children because it inspires them and encourages them to fulfill their duty to their school and families.”

To observe the nationwide back-to-school festival, State President Tran Dai Quang sent a letter of congratulations to the sector in which he asked all teachers and educational staff to comprehensively reform national education. He said he hopes students will continue to uphold the national tradition of learning, nurture their ambition, and contribute to national construction.