When did the first general election of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam take place? What are the 05 perspectives on developing the History curriculum in Vietnam?

When did the first general election of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam take place?

The Vietnamese people rose unanimously to carry out the General Uprising to seize power, with notable victories in Hanoi (August 19, 1945), Hue (August 23, 1945), and Saigon (August 25, 1945). The government of the entire country belonged to the people, King Bao Dai abdicated. On August 25, 1945, the Provisional Government of Vietnam was established to prepare for organizing the National Assembly.

On September 2, 1945, at Ba Dinh Square, President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence, proclaiming the birth of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. On September 3, 1945, at the first meeting of the Provisional Government of Vietnam, he proposed organizing a general election by universal suffrage.

On September 8, 1945, Decree No. 14-SL was issued, setting forth the general election for the National Assembly. Subsequent supplementary decrees specified the election regulations. Despite many difficulties, preparations proceeded urgently. On December 18, 1945, President Ho Chi Minh signed a decree postponing the general election to January 6, 1946, to allow more preparation time and consensus.

On January 6, 1946, the first general election took place nationwide, including in combat zones. In Hanoi, 91.95% of voters cast their ballots. As a result, President Ho Chi Minh was elected with the highest number of votes (98.4%). This was the first democratic festival in Vietnamese history, affirming the people's sovereignty.

Thus, the first general election of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam took place on January 6, 1946.

When did the first general election of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam take place? What are the 05 perspectives on developing the History curriculum in Vietnam? (Image from the Internet)

What are the 05 perspectives on developing the History curriculum in Vietnam?

Under the general education program for History issued together with Circular 32/2018/TT-BGDDT, the five perspectives on developing the History curriculum in Vietnam include:

The History curriculum thoroughly instills viewpoints, objectives, and general orientations on developing and advancing the general education program outlined in the overall program, particularly focusing on viewpoints enhancing students’ qualities and competencies, while emphasizing certain viewpoints:

[1] Scientific, modern

The History curriculum helps students approach history by applying modern achievements of historical science and educational science. To be specific:

- The History curriculum thoroughly adheres to the guidelines, and viewpoints of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the State of Vietnam;

- The History curriculum values foundational principles of historical science, ensuring respect for historical truth, the richness and diversity of history; objectivity, comprehensiveness in presenting and interpreting history;

- The History curriculum aims to guide and encourage students to learn, and explore history according to historical science principles, thereby helping students develop historical thinking and critical thinking;

- The History curriculum contributes to building the ability to analyze and evaluate historical figures, events, and processes scientifically, aiding students in recognizing historical laws and lessons and applying them to practice.

[2] Systematic, fundamental

The main development axis of the History curriculum is a system of topics and study subjects on fundamental issues of world history, Southeast Asian history, and Vietnamese history, to enhance and broaden the general knowledge students learned at the the lower secondary level. To be specific:

- The topics and study subjects in the History curriculum are systematic, and fundamental, stemming from the requirements to develop competencies and history education for each class;

- The History curriculum's knowledge components ensure logical consistency (in chronological and synchronous relationships, the interaction between Vietnamese history with regional and world history...);

- The History curriculum ensures that students access fundamental historical knowledge in political, economic, social, cultural, and ideological fields; developing lifelong history self-study competencies and the ability to apply understandings of world, regional, and Vietnamese history, culture, and society into life.

[3] Practical, experiential

The History curriculum values historical practice content, linking history with real life. To be specific:

- The History curriculum considers practice an important content and a practical, effective tool to develop students' competencies;

- The History curriculum increases the duration of practical activities; diversifies types of practice through various educational forms such as group activities, individual self-study; learning in the classroom, museums, in the field; project-based learning, heritage learning;...;

- The History curriculum ensures suitability with the practical and socio-economic conditions of the country and localities. Through the system of study topics and subjects, the educational forms organized, the History curriculum creates flexibility to be adjustable for localities and different student groups while ensuring the overall education level nationwide, compatible with regional and global standards.

[4] National, humanistic

The History curriculum helps students correctly perceive the nation’s traditional values, forming and developing the good qualities of Vietnamese people and the universal values of global citizens. To be specific:

- The History curriculum helps students have correct perceptions of patriotism and genuine, progressive nationalism of the Vietnamese people, the position of the nation-state in the region and the world in historical periods, aiming to build genuine national pride, recognizing both strengths and limitations in the nation’s historical legacies;

- The History curriculum helps students form and develop humanistic values, and community spirit, against social, cultural, ethnic, and religious prejudices and discrimination; aiming towards tolerance, kindness, respect for differences, and equality among nations, communities, genders and social groups; aspiring for peace, reconciliation, harmony, and cooperation;

- The History curriculum helps students adopt a correct and positive attitude towards issues of natural resource, nature, and environmental protection, aiming for sustainable development and the struggle for a peaceful, progressive, transparent, just, and civilized world.

[5] Open, interconnected

The History curriculum features openness and interconnectedness. To be specific:

- The knowledge and skill structure of History creates opportunities for students to connect and integrate with knowledge and skills of other subjects such as Geography, Literature, Civic Education, National Defense and Security Education,...;

- The History curriculum empowers local authorities and schools to develop educational plans suitable for local conditions, providing creative space for teachers to implement the principle of “one program, multiple textbooks”; emphasizing the collaboration between school, family, and society in history education;

- The History curriculum ensures high integration principles at lower grades, gradually differentiating at higher grades; closely connecting between educational levels, between classes in each educational level and linking with vocational education and higher education programs.

What does the History curriculum benefit students in Vietnam?

According to Section 3 of the General Education Program for History included with Circular 32/2018/TT-BGDDT, the objectives of the History curriculum are as follows:

- The History curriculum helps students develop historical competence, a manifestation of scientific capabilities formed at the secondary school level; contributes to nurturing national spirit, patriotism, and the good traditional values of the nation and human cultural essences, characteristics, and competencies of Vietnamese citizens and global citizens in line with contemporary development trends;

- The History curriculum helps students access and clearly understand the role and characteristics of historical science and the connection between history and various scientific fields and professions, providing a foundation for students to orient their future careers.