Wednesday, April 27, 2022, 08:53 (GMT+7)
Some solutions to improve the quality of political education for non-commissioned officers and soldiers at grassroots-level units

Political education at grassroots-level units plays an important part in ideological work, in order to raise awareness, foster beliefs and ideals, build strong political will, and pure morals for non-commissioned officers and soldiers so that they are ready to receive and fulfil all assigned tasks. Therefore, researching and identifying appropriate and effective solutions to improve the quality of education for this subject is an urgent requirement today.

Being well aware of the position and role of political education work, agencies and units in the entire army, over the past few years, have proposed guidelines and measures to lead, direct and synchronously implement solutions and conduct active innovation, especially after the preliminary review of the Project "Innovation of political education at the unit in the new period". Based on educational content promulgated by the General Department of Politics, the units have concretised measures relevant to their functions and tasks; in which, self-determined contents (20%) aim at imbuing non-commissioned officers with legal, moral and lifestyle education. Forms and methods of continuing education are renewed and creative; time is adjusted appropriately to increase the period for exchange and support so that learners can grasp core knowledge, thereby putting it into practice in military life and assigned tasks. The contingent of political teaching staff is comprehensively trained in terms of pedagogical qualifications, methods and ability to apply information technology in political lectures. The units also emphasise on upgrading equipment, ensuring synchronisation, promoting effectiveness, contributing to improving the quality of political education. Some outdated forms in political learning are eliminated; many good models and innovative teaching methodologies have been applied in all naval units. However, there still remain some limitations in in this. For example, the implementation of the political education plan is not synchronous; self-education contents do not match the characteristics of the unit's tasks and educational objects; political teaching methods are still monotonous; testing and evaluation also reveal fake achievements, etc.

An initiative for political education at Division 324

Thoroughly grasping the resolution of the 13th Party Congress and the 11th Military Party Congress, especially the orientations, goals, requirements and tasks to build the Army and defend the Fatherland in the current situation, in order to continue effectively conducting the Project "Innovation of political education at military units in the new period", it is necessary to focus on some solutions to improve the quality of political education for non-commissioned officers in grassroots level units as follow.

Firstly, unify awareness and promote responsibility in leadership, direction and implementation of political education tasks for non-commissioned officers and soldiers. This is a key solution that determines the quality and effectiveness of political education for non-commissioned officers and soldiers at grassroots-level units. Unifying awareness and promoting responsibility are both a requirement and a duty of commanders at all levels, because political education, placed under the management and administration of commanding officers at regiment, battalion, company, platoon level, is a training content of the unit with all the constitutive elements (content, form, methods, means, teachers, learners, etc.); therefore, it must be put as top priority. Before each training season, the units need to have a thematic resolution to lead the task of political education to ensure accuracy and appropriateness. On that basis, the study should firmly grasp the characteristics and tasks of education and objects to well prepare and assign specific tasks to the participating forces, especially political agencies, political teaching staff and cadres. Unifying awareness, promoting responsibility should be carried out throughout the process and to each officer and soldier in the unit (including military and professional staff); in which, political commissars and cadres must be the leading force, the centre for coordination and synergies, creating a driving force for innovation and creativity to improve the quality of political education for non-commissioned officers and soldiers. To this end, commanders at all levels need to regularly pay attention to building relationships of solidarity and attachment in their units, building a healthy military cultural environment and taking care of soldiers’ material and spiritual life.

Secondly, synchronously renovate educational activities to improve the quality of political education for non-commissioned officers and soldiers. The quality of political education for non-commissioned officers is made up by a combination of educational content, teachers, learners, materials, etc.; therefore, improving political education must centre on synchronously improving these factors. Accordingly, the renovation of political education contents and methods requires research units to firmly grasp the requirements of each lesson and the overall educational program. On the basis of learning materials issued by the General Department of Politics, the political teaching staff concretise, update and add new contents to their lectures at the units. At the same time, it is necessary to invest effort and intelligence in self-determined educational contents; to use appropriate teaching methods, making it easy for soldiers to understand, remember and apply in their daily lives.

With regards to the method, it is necessary to develop both the teacher’s methodology and learner's acquisition. Teachers are required to firmly grasp the teaching object to choose methods, use means and materials to achieve optimal efficiency, creating excitement, motivation, and inspiration. For learners, the most important thing is how to comfort their psychology before entering political classes, thereby eliminating non-commissioned officers’ scare and hesitation in studying politics. In addition, promoting the renovation of material assurance and teaching equipment to make the system of equipment and facilities the most effective service, bringing into play its best functions for improving the quality of political education. The facilities need to be synchronised, along with the capacity to exploit, operate, use, manage, repair and maintain equipment, especially computers, projectors, audio and digital media.

Thirdly, renovate the inspection, review and evaluation of political education results. Reality has proven that, in any units where inspection, review and evaluation activities are valued, the quality of political education will achieve good results and vice versa. Besides raising the awareness and viewpoint of commanders at all levels, the work of innovating inspection, review and evaluation of political education results must be uniformly deployed from the beginning of training and carried out synchronously right from the formulation of educational programs and plans to the implementation process; in which, importance is attached to clearly defining the content, form and methods of inspection, review and evaluation, together with the synchronisation in the system of organisation and assurance such as: questions and answers, evaluation of the judges, supervisors and review staff. To this end, commanders at all levels need to thoroughly grasp an objective viewpoint in assessing the results of political education, completely overcome addiction to achievement in general, and in political education in particular. Moreover, it is necessary to have check and evaluation throughout the process of political education, in order to promptly correct the limitations and weaknesses as well as encourage typical collectives and individuals. At the same time, due regard should be given to regularly conduct the training for testing officials to meet the requirements of renewing examination, review and evaluation. Also, emphasis is placed upon developing test questions, objective multiple-choice tests, which suit learners' perception, and cover the basic knowledge of the political education program for non-commissioned officers.

Fourthly, attach importance to preliminary reviewing, summarising, drawing experiences and replicating typical examples. This is not only a process in military training but also an important solution to improve the quality of political education for non-commissioned officers. Because the content, form, and method of military education, learners’ awareness, as well as the teachers’ capacity and qualifications are constantly developed and influenced by objective and subjective factors. Therefore, units need to focus on the work of preliminary review, summarisation, and experience withdrawal, thereby promptly supplementing and updating new contents, applying creative ways to political education in order to achieve high quality and effectiveness. To this end, commanders at all levels need to make thorough preparation in all aspects. During implementation, it is necessary to maximise democracy, operate flexibly, creatively and scientifically, find out good experiences and valuable lessons, directly serving the improvement of political education for non-commissioned officers; at the same time, well perform the work of replicating good models of political education throughout the unit. To implement this solution, commanders of the units need to avoid perfunctory methods; but respect and encourage new initiatives and ideas. Through the review conference, it is necessary to give honest and serious criticism to both encourage good people and good deeds, and simultaneously review, criticise as well as correct mistakes and shortcomings with a view to constantly improving the quality of political education for non-commissioned officers in current units at grassroots level.

Colonel, Dr PHAM THANH TRUNG

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