VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam will observe Teachers’ Day (November 20) by conferring People’s Teacher and Meritorious Teacher titles to 916 teachers for their contribution to the cause of national education.

Outstanding teachers who have contributed to developing the education system are set to receive honours on Teachers’ Day, which falls on November 20.

On Tuesday, the HCM Communist Youth Union held a ceremony to felicitate 97 young teachers, including 11 doctorate degree holders and 30 postgraduates on the occasion of Teachers’ Day.

They were praised for achieving high competency and deploying creative methods in teaching students of various subjects in different disciplines.

Also on Tuesday, the city’s Department of Education and Training (DoET) celebrated the 26th Viet Nam Teachers’ Day at the Thong Nhat (Reunification) Conference Hall.

Huynh Cong Minh, director of the department, reported on results obtained during the 2007-08 academic year. He said change in curricula requested by the Ministry of Education and Training had been implemented in all schools from grade one to 12.

Furthermore, 16 of 24 districts in the city had universalized secondary education.

In the last school year, the department had paid particular attention to raising the quality of teachers and educational administrators, Minh said.

Most teachers had been trained in teaching methods using IT facilities and the media.

The city invested VND133.5 billion (US$7.9 million) last year to upgrade infrastructure and equipment in public schools.

Various organisations donated more than VND73 billion ($4.3 million) towards building more schools.

DoET spent VND136 million ($8,095) on building 17 charity houses for teachers in districts of Can Gio, Nha Be, Binh Chanh and Cu Chi.

The Minister of Education and Training has awarded certificates of merit to 12 schools and 80 individuals for outstanding achievements in the 2007-2008 school year.

Praise for Ha Noi uni

The Ha Noi National University’s teaching staff had made great contribution to the training of new generations of intellectuals and performing scientific research of the educational sector, said Mai Trong Nhuan, director of the Ha Noi National University.

At a ceremony held on Tuesday to mark the Teachers’ Day, he said: “All achievements the university has gained affirms its top-ranking position among universities and colleges in the national education and creates the country’s prestige in the region.”

On the occasion, 78 teachers were honoured as the People’s Teachers and Meritorious Teachers for their great devotion to the educational sector.

The university ranks first for teaching staff in the country, and second in the amount of scientific works published in major global publications.

Teachers’ Day bargains

Shopping malls, supermarkets and shops in HCM City are gearing up for Teachers’ Day on November 20 with new sale promotions.

Pham Ngoc Quy, director of Intimex market, said prices for gifts for Teacher’s Day included sets of glasses, cosmetics and glass souvenirs, as well as home appliances.

Nguyen Quynh Trang, an official of Big C Supermarket, said prices for gifts already wrapped for teachers have been reduced from 5 per cent to 10 per cent.

For clothes and shoes, prices have fallen by 5 per cent, she said.

Nguyen Thu Lan, official of Fivimart supermarket, said best-sellers were packaged goods for VND100,000-250,000 ($6-15).

Many bookshops, including Tien Phong and Nguyen Van Cu, have also cut costs. Cards, jewelry and flowers are also popular gifts to teachers.

Cards for Teachers’ Day are being sold by Duc Quyen Co. Ltd, which produces 50 new kinds of cards for VND2,000-9,000 each.

According to the director of the Korean-owned Scentsun Jewelry Shop, students have also been buying jewelry, with necklaces and earrings sold for VND200,000-500,000 ($12-29.7).

The owner of Kim Lien Flower Shop said fresh and dried flowers were the most popular gifts for teachers.

The number of flowers sold in HCM City this year has doubled over the same period last year, with prices 10 to 15 per cent higher than last year.

(Source: Viet Nam News)