Outstanding ethnic minority youths honored for excellence
The recognition reflects Vietnam's long-term investment in learning in highland areas and its efforts to advance inclusive education.
THE HANOI TIMES — Vietnam will praise 145 outstanding ethnic minority students and youths for academic excellence at an awarding ceremony scheduled for December 27, Deputy Minister of Ethnic and Religious Affairs Y Thong said.
Thong described the event as a strong testament to the expanding reach and impact of inclusive education in remote and mountainous areas nationwide.
Outstanding ethnic minority students and youths were presented certificates of merit at the 2024 awarding ceremony. Photos: VNA
The 2025 ceremony, the 12th edition of the program since its launch in 2013, will take place at the Ho Guom Theater and be broadcast live on national television.
The honoring will cover a series of accompanying activities, including a student and youth forum themed “Digital stories from the villages,” a ceremonial tribute at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and a Golden Book signing at the Temple of Literature in Hanoi.
“Among the honorees are national and international award winners in academic competitions, arts and sports. Many have been admitted to Vietnam's top universities with high entrance scores,” said the deputy minister.
Especially, compared to previous years, the 2025 cohort shows clear improvement in both the quantity and quality of achievements. “The growing enthusiasm for learning among ethnic minority youth is contributing to a new generation of academically-driven citizens,” Thong emphasized.
According to the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET), Vietnam is now home to 1,213 semi-boarding schools for ethnic minorities, serving around 245,800 students; 316 full-boarding schools with about 115,300 students; four university preparatory schools with over 3,000 students each year.
Awarded recipients at the 2024 ceremony sign the Golden Book at the Temple of Literature in Hanoi.
Over the past five years, average enrollment rates for ethnic minority children have nearly matched national averages, reaching 98% for five-year-old preschoolers, 97.25% for primary school-aged children, 98.24% graduation rates at lower secondary and 98.16% at upper secondary level.
These figures reflect the effectiveness of nationwide education policies and long-term investment in building human resources in ethnic communities.
Therefore, the awarding ceremony to honor ethnic minority students and youths is "a symbol of the nation’s steadfast commitment to inclusive education and long-term sustainable development," the MoET stressed.
Over the past 12 years, more than 2,000 ethnic minority students and youths have been praised. Many of them have returned to their hometowns after graduation to contribute to local development, particularly in health, education and economic fields.
