Editor’s note: Starting today, June 15, we will publish the entries of the “Ky Vong Viet Nam 20 Nam Toi” (“My Expectations for Vietnam in 20 Years”) writing contest, a competition organized by the World Bank in Vietnam and Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that encourages local youths to share their wildest, yet feasible, dreams about how Vietnam will change in 20 years’ time.

Below is the entry by A Khuong, a 16-year-old boy living in Ho Chi Minh City. All entries exclusively reflect the ideas of the authors.

Twenty years is neither too long nor too short for us to make astounding strides regarding science and technology. Twenty years from now, the country’s entire length will be dotted with multi-story houses or skyscrapers.

Along with the emergence of tall buildings come green urban areas which are neatly zoned and level, with seemingly endless streets devoid of potholes. We wake up to clean, fresh air, which is pierced with the twitter of birds and the rustling of trees lining rivers.

I am deeply touched when envisioning a rapidly developed, beautiful and peaceful country in the next 20 years. People then would be friendly, civilized and well-behaved. They would also be law abiders who would adhere steadfastly to the Communist Party of Vietnam’s ideology and cherish their own aspirations for building a splendid, glorious country which is really worth living in.

As far as I know, the most pressing issue in the 20-year construction course is working toward a premium education system which would serve as an incubator for the country’s young talents and righteous citizens.

From the perspective of a student, whose knowledge may remain limited and thoughts immature, I think education officials should adjust the volume of knowledge stuffed into textbooks in an attempt to avoid limited absorption despite overwhelming intake, and keep students from adopting undesirable measures to negatively cope with studies and going after scores only instead of much-needed knowledge and skills.

These days a worryingly large number of students, particularly those from grades six to 12, learn mostly for their exams and marks, which may result in unbridgeable knowledge gaps among future generations. We may choose not to use different sets of textbooks as other countries do, but we should adjust our curricula so that they will better intrigue and engage students and have a positive impact on learners’ critical thinking.

I am not turning my back on the efforts exerted by officials of the Ministry of Education and Training and teachers, but we should tighten our management and take feasible measures to bring about drastic reforms to textbooks and the country’s comprehensive education.

Once our education has seen reforms, we would achieve certain accomplishments and earn a worthy spot in the global standing regarding science and education development.

Educational strides help boost economic and technological development thanks to cutting-edge scientific inventions by Vietnamese people.

In addition, we should also attract investment in infrastructure; air, land and river way traffic; medicine; national defense; agriculture, industry and the environment.

Paying due attention to education means placing special stress on educating people. Citizens are supposed to be respectful of ethical codes and knowledgeable at the same time in today’s society, just as in old times.

Schools should focus on shaping their students’ personality growth and uprightness through each of the lessons. They should also make sure students do not underestimate such subjects as history, ethics and civics. Students should always be appreciative of, and grateful to, the place where they were born, grew up, and where their virtues are honed with their parents’ and teachers’ meticulous care and dedication.

(A Khuong, 16, Ho Chi Minh City)