Ho Chi Minh City-based Nguyen Thi Minh Khai High School, one of Vietnam’s oldest educational institutions, marked the start of the 2024-25 academic year on Thursday.

Founded in 1913, the prestigious institution celebrated its ongoing academic achievements, including city-level academic awards and a national first-place prize in the ‘Students with Startup Ideas 2024’ competition, organized by the Ministry of Education and Training in collaboration with the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union.

In the 2023-24 school year, all of Nguyen Thi Minh Khai’s senior students graduated and secured places at universities, with several earning scholarships to study abroad.

The school’s 10th-grade entrance exam results were also notable, with the second-highest admission scores citywide, and two students, both named Phuc, achieving top scores of 28 out of 30.

Scholarships were awarded to these top scorers and 15 other students who excelled in the national high school graduation exams.

Le Dinh Luc, CEO of DOL English, a partner in providing English scholarships for Nguyen Thi Minh Khai students, explained that his company aims to improve students' English proficiency, empowering them to achieve their dreams both domestically and internationally.

"This year, DOL English is thrilled to have the opportunity to collaborate with top schools [in Ho Chi Minh City] like the High School for Gifted Students [under the Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City], Le Hong Phong High School for Gifted Students, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai High School, Nguyen Thuong Hien High School, Phu Nhuan High School, and Nguyen Huu Huan High School,” Luc said.

“We are proud to support the talented and determined students of these institutions.

“Our hope is to help improve their English skills so their growth can be more sustainable and well-rounded, ultimately enabling them to pursue their dreams both here at home and abroad."

DOL English awarded 20 online self-study scholarships, each valued at VND5 million (US$202), to Nguyen Thi Minh Khai High School students on this occasion.

Meanwhile, in Thu Duc City under Ho Chi Minh City, the Tran Chi Dao Hall hosted the opening ceremony for the 2024-25 school year at the High School for Gifted Students on the same day.

Principal Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Thanh Mai lauded the school's accomplishments over the past year, with 98.51 percent of its students achieving top academic rankings.

All senior students were accepted into universities both at home and abroad, including one who achieved the highest score in Ho Chi Minh City on the Vietnam National University’s aptitude test.

The school excelled in national competitions, with 58 students winning prizes at the national high school academic contest, including three first-place awards in mathematics, biology, and literature.

Tenth-grader Nguyen Hong Anh earned the top national score in literature.

The school’s students also secured medals at the International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence and the National Science and Technology Contest.

In extracurricular achievements, the school’s students also shone in arts and sports, with several earning national and international accolades in chess, swimming, and other disciplines.

Despite these successes, principal Mai noted that the school faces significant challenges as the only specialized high school in the country operating under an autonomous model.

However, she expressed confidence in the school’s continued growth as a leading educational institution in both Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam.

Following the ceremony, students gathered at Hoa Binh Theater in District 10 for a concert featuring popular Vietnamese rapper Den Vau, whose contributions to community service earned him the National Volunteer Award in 2023.

His story was included in an entrance exam for the High School for Gifted Students, highlighting the importance of kindness and volunteerism – a message that resonated with students and sparked widespread positive discussions on social media.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam!