22.5 mln pupils, students start new school year across Vietnam

Some 22.5 million Vietnamese pupils and students across the country on Monday are attending a ceremony marking the beginning of a new school year.

Among the figure, around 20.5 million are pupils in preschool, primary, secondary and high schools while the rest are students in universities, colleges.

The ceremony normally includes solemn rites of saluting the flag, singing the national anthem, and reading letter of Vietnamese President.

On the occasion of beginning 2016-2017 academic year, Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang sent a congratulatory letter to teachers and students nationwide.

During the academic year of 2016-2017, Vietnamese education sector is continuing its fundamental and comprehensive reforms in improving education and training quality, according to the state-run news agency VNA on Monday.

Especially, in preschools, reforms in child care and education will be a focus, while in high schools, education of ethics, lifestyle, life skills, awareness and responsibility of citizens to society will be concentrated. At the same time, higher and professional education will seek to improve human resource training quality, reported VNA.

（APD）