Continuously striving to improve alongside preschool education nationwide.

In the 2023-2024 academic year, early childhood education in the military consistently received the attention and guidance of the Minister of National Defense , the Chief of the General Political Department, Party committees, political commissars, commanders, and political agencies at all levels; the attention and guidance on professional matters from the Department of Early Childhood Education (Ministry of Education and Training); and the efforts of the management staff and early childhood education teachers, thus successfully completing the academic year's tasks according to the plan. The entire military currently has 63 early childhood education facilities (209 school locations), a decrease of 3 facilities compared to the previous academic year (General Department of Defense: 1 school; General Department of National Defense: 1 school; 16th Army Corps: 1 school).

Training and professional development for management staff and teachers have received attention and support from many units. The percentage of preschool management staff and teachers meeting or exceeding standard training qualifications is 98.57% (an increase of 5.89% compared to the previous academic year). Of these, the percentage with postgraduate, undergraduate, and college degrees is 54.67% (meeting the implementation roadmap according to Government Decree 71/2020/ND-CP).

Many units have continued to build, upgrade, and repair facilities, schools, and classrooms; equipment has been invested in to meet the requirements of childcare and education based on the child-centered approach, resulting in many positive changes. The work of educational quality accreditation and building national standard preschools has been given attention and implemented well by some units with the necessary resources. In the past academic year, two preschools under the Ministry of National Defence achieved educational quality accreditation at Levels 2 and 3 and were recognized as national standard preschools at Levels 1 and 2.

Many preschools have actively innovated their methods and organizational forms in implementing the preschool education program, creating opportunities for learning through play and experiences suitable for children, gradually improving the quality of nurturing, caring for, and educating children. In the past school year, preschool education in the military provided care and education to over 12,000 children of school age; including nearly 2,500 children from ethnic minorities; and provided quality inclusive education for dozens of children with disabilities. 209 schools throughout the military ensured absolute safety, both physically and mentally, for 100% of children attending school… These results further affirm the maturity and positive development of preschool education in the military, creating prestige and widespread influence in preschool education nationwide. Particularly noteworthy is the fact that one preschool teacher in the military was awarded the prestigious title of "Outstanding Teacher" by the President of Vietnam.

However, due to the unit's specific deployment location, many schools are in remote, border areas, with the main school located 10-50km away from the outlying schools, making transportation difficult, and many classes are mixed-age; many schools have 100% ethnic minority children (multi-ethnic concentration in one school); therefore, this affects the quality of implementing the Early Childhood Education Program and the implementation of the Development Standards for 5-year-old children.

Colonel Nguyen Thi Thu Hien, Head of the Women's Committee of the Army, delivered a speech at the conference.

Speaking at the conference, Colonel Nguyen Thi Thu Hien acknowledged and commended the efforts and achievements in early childhood education within the Army during the 2023-2024 school year. The Head of the Military Education Department requested that units with early childhood education facilities throughout the army focus on effectively implementing the following tasks:

Firstly , leaders and commanders of units with early childhood education facilities need to continue to thoroughly understand the Party's viewpoint on education and training, and continue to comprehensively focus on training and improving the capacity and qualifications of management staff and early childhood education teachers in their units; invest in infrastructure; and pay attention to the aspirations and concerns of staff, teachers, and employees regarding policies, benefits, and employment.

Secondly , the departments, divisions, and assistants in charge of women's affairs at the 13 agencies and units under the Ministry of National Defence with early childhood education facilities should continue to further improve the quality of their advice and proposals; and make maximum use of the attention and support from leaders, commanders, and functional agencies at all levels to improve the quality and effectiveness of management and organization of early childhood education activities in the Army.

Thirdly , units with early childhood education facilities need to continue to coordinate closely with Party committees, governments, departments, and organizations, especially the Education sector in the localities where they are stationed, to carry out early childhood education work in order to improve the quality of nurturing, caring for, and educating children.

Fourthly , the management staff and preschool teachers must closely adhere to the tasks of the school year, promote initiative, and innovate in developing educational plans and school curricula that are appropriate to the practical conditions of the unit and locality, meeting the requirements of the preschool education program to improve the quality of nurturing, caring for, and educating children. Focus on doing a good job of promoting and socializing education, actively coordinating between families, schools, and society, and enhancing responsibility for the care and education of preschool-aged children.

At the conference, delegates discussed, spoke, and exchanged valuable experiences as well as existing limitations and shortcomings in the process of organizing and implementing the task of nurturing, caring for, and educating children at early childhood education facilities within their units. This served as a basis for agencies, units, management staff, teachers, and employees of early childhood education facilities throughout the military to better carry out early childhood education work in the new school year.

Individuals who received Certificates of Merit

Also within the framework of the Conference, 33 collectives and 63 individuals from units under the Ministry of National Defence with early childhood education facilities who achieved outstanding results in performing their tasks in the 2023-2024 school year were awarded Certificates of Commendation by the Head of the General Political Department.

Following the concluding conference, management staff and teachers from 63 preschool education institutions throughout the military will continue to participate in professional training until August 8, 2024.