Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc beats the drum to kick of the 2019-20 academic year at Sơn Tây High School in Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc on Thursday beat the drum to kick off the 2019-20 academic year at Sơn Tây High School in Hà Nội’s outlying Sơn Tây township.

Speaking at the ceremony, PM Phúc congratulated the school on its achievements over the past 60 years, and lauded its efforts in renovating teaching and learning methods.

The Party and State always pay attention to education and training, he affirmed, noting his hope that the sector, including the Sơn Tây High School, will contribute more to national construction.

Apart from official subjects, the school should place more importance on teaching morals, lifestyle and life skills, thus promoting the comprehensive development of students, PM Phúc said.

The same day, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân joined the new school year ceremony with teachers and students of Tháp Mười High School in the Mekong Delta province of Đồng Tháp.

Party and State leaders also attended school year ceremonies at educational institutions in many other localities.

Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly Tòng Thị Phóng was present at a similar ceremony of Hoàng Văn Thụ High School in northern Yên Bái Province.

Politburo member and Deputy Prime Minister Trương Hòa Bình participated in a ceremony at the Hoàng Hoa Thám Primary School in the central province of Thanh Hoá.

Politburo member and head of the Party Central Committee’s Information and Education Commission Võ Văn Thưởng came to share the start of the new school year with teachers and students of the Chu Văn An Secondary School in the northern port city of Hải Phòng.

Meanwhile, Politburo member and Deputy Prime Minister Vương Đình Huệ beat the drum to kick off the new academic year at the Lý Nam Đế Primary School in the northern province of Thái Bình.

Vice President Đặng Thị Ngọc Thịnh took part in celebrations at the Lê Hồng Phong High School for the Gifted in the northern province of Nam Định.

Deputy Prime Minister Vũ Đức Đam joined teachers and students of the Lê Văn Tám Primary School in HCM City in a ceremony to start the new academic year.

President of the Việt Nam Fatherland Front Central Committee Trần Thanh Mẫn attended the ceremony of Đà Bắc Boarding Secondary and High School for Ethnic Minority Students in Hoà Bình Province.

He handed over 15 gift packages worth VNĐ30 million (US$1,290) to poor students with outstanding academic achievements and five guitars to the school.

More than 24 million students across the country began the 2019-20 academic year following brief ceremonies on Thursday. — VNS