Deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà (standing) gives a speech at the meeting. — VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Tùng

HÀ NỘI — The education and training sector had an important mission and was an important factor in the socio-economic development of the country, said Deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà.

He made the statement while working with the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) in Hà Nội on Wednesday.

The Deputy PM said that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the sector maintained safe teaching and learning conditions, ensured quality, creativity and promoted digital transformation.

The Deputy PM requested the education and training sector to focus on solving current issues such as reforming textbooks and curricula and proposing solutions to develop education in poor and remote areas.

He emphasised that education and training must always have the spirit of innovation. Therefore, the MoET needed to coordinate with other sectors, localities and enterprises to make forecasts on science and technology development to have appropriate plans to keep pace with the market’s demand.

University study must be associated with research, bringing to the market the products that society needs based on enterprises’ orders.

The MoET needed to complete the assessment frameworks, and come up with criteria and standards to properly assess the students’ capabilities.

The Deputy PM said he would continue to work more deeply with the MoET to soon issue appropriate policies and strategies for education and training.

Speaking at the meeting, Minister of Education and Training Nguyễn Kim Sơn thanked the Party and the State for considering education as one of the strategic breakthroughs for national development, with great expectations and high entrustment.

The country’s future depended a lot on the human factor. Therefore, the sector’s development is even more important, he said.

Fully aware of that mission, the education sector has made great efforts to overcome difficulties and gradually innovate.

But, a number of challenges and problems arose in the development period. The MoET hoped that the Deputy PM would direct and share the problems posed to the sector.

Sơn proposed the Government consider and make education projects the top priority group when setting up plans for the 2021-30 period.

Priority should be given to buying teaching equipment, upgrading facilities, and essential ancillary works for teaching and learning.

He suggested the Government direct the ministries and localities to develop and perfect policies to give support, encouragement and investment for higher education.

Public-private cooperation is encouraged, especially preferential policies for tax and land use fees.

Local people's committees should assess the demand for teachers in the area, and coordinate with the MoET to ensure training. — VNS