(VOVworld) – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh on Friday attended new academic year celebrations at Ha Long Gifted School in Quang Ninh province.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh speaks at the ceremony at Ha Long Gifted School in Quang Ninh province on Sept. 5, 2014

He hailed the achievements of the school’s teachers and students in the past year, urging Ha Long school in particular and Quang Ninh education sector in general, to enhance study and teaching quality: "It’s necessary to renew study and teaching methods for higher education quality. Besides, it’s important to encourage teachers and students to follow President Ho Chi Minh’s moral example. I call on party committees and authorities at all levels to invest more in education."

In another celebration to mark the event at Pleiku High School in Gia Lai province, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam asked teachers and students to further improve study and teaching activities.

Deputy PM Vu Duc Dam beat the drum to start the new school year at Pleiku High School in Gia Lai province on Sept. 5, 2014

He called on concerned sectors, parents, and teachers in the locality to create the most favorable conditions for students, especially those from ethnic minorities and families of beneficiaries, to study.

On the same day, celebrations also took place in Truong Sa island district to kick off the new academic year. For this new school year, two new primary schools have been built in the district thanks to donations from the Ho Chi Minh municipal Department of Education and Training and Vu A Dinh Fund.