Foreign ambassadors attended a new academic year ceremony at Thanh Xa Secondary School. Photo: VNF

A delegation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by Ambassador Nguyen Nguyet Nga, Vice Chair of the Vietnam National Committee for Pacific Economic Co-operation, along with ambassadors and representatives of the embassies of Russia, China, Thailand, Singapore, Peru, Indonesia, Angola, Venezuela, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Bangladesh joined teachers and students of Thanh Xa Secondary School at the school year beginning ceremony.

On this occasion, the delegation presented scholarships to 23 poor students with outstanding academic achievements (each worth 1 million VND); 5 million in cash, one set of projector and projector screen to the school; as well as 214 backpacks to students.

In particular, Ambassador Nguyen Nguyet Nga, who also is spouse of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, representing the delegation, handed over VND 1.1 billion fund to help Phu Tho province rebuild 8 class houses of Thanh Xa Secondary School.

Addressing the ceremony, Nga expressed her wish that the small gift of the delegation will contribute to building more spacious school facilities, thereby improving learning conditions. The teachers and students of the school can make full use of the facilities to better their studies.

The same day’s afternoon, the delegation has a meeting with Chairman of Provincial People's Committee and watched Xoan singing performances - a practice also recognised by UNESCO as world cultural heritage.

More than 24 million students across the country began the 2019-2020 academic year following brief and solemn ceremonies without balloons on September 5.

According to estimates from the Ministry of Education and Training, this new academic year welcomes over 5.5 million kindergarteners, more than 17 million primary, secondary, and high school students, as well as over 1.5 million undergraduates./.

VNF