Recently, despite the strong, complicated and prolonged developments of the Covid-19 pandemic, which negatively impact the political, socio-economic, cultural, defence and security situations, etc. of Binh Duong province, even at times threatening the lives of the people and causing damage to public properties, the Party Committee, authorities, people and armed forces of the province have always stayed united and worked together to overcome the difficulties, promote synergy, repel the pandemic, gradually restore socio-economic development and stabilise people's lives. As a result, in the first 6 months of 2022, the province has basically controlled the Covid-19 situation, recovered socio-economic development quickly, regained growth momentum, strengthened and maintained national defence, security, social order and safety, and thoroughly implemented social security policies, etc. However, due to the fast pace of economic and urban development, there remain many potential social evils in the area. This is coupled with the sabotage of hostile and reactionary forces who take advantage of long-standing complaints and land disputes to entice and incite local people, causing political insecurity and disorder. To cope with those issues, together with effective measures for disease prevention and control, promoting socio-economic development, and improving people's living standards,...the Provincial Party Committee and People's Committee have synchronously and drastically deployed solutions to lead and direct the implementation of defence and military work, mobilised the participation of the whole political system, focus on improving the quality and efficiency of defence and security education. Thereby, it has created a strong change in awareness and responsibility of all levels, branches, armed forces and the whole people for the task of Fatherland protection, while practically contributing to the construction of the all-people national defence, the all-people national defence posture associated with the people's security posture, especially the solid "people's heart and mind posture" in the province and the whole country.

Commending the militia and self-defence forces in Covid-19 prevention and controll

On thoroughly studying and grasping the Law on Defence and Security Education, the directives, decrees, circulars and instructions of higher echelons, the Provincial Military Command – the Standing Agency of the Provincial Council for Defence and Security Education has promptly advised the Provincial Party Committee and People's Committee to develop plans for training, propagating and disseminating defence and security knowledge to specific objects and the entire population. The Provincial Military Command has closely coordinated with departments, agencies, sectors and mass organisations to effectively implement defence and security education in the context of the prolonged Covid-19 pandemic. It directed localities to hold training courses in a serious and safe manner to promptly update defence and security knowledge for learners, and thoroughly carry out propaganda and dissemination of defence and security knowledge to the entire population with appropriate forms and measures to create a consensus on the awareness and responsibility of all levels and branches for this work, and unveil the plots and tricks of hostile forces to cadres, party members and people of all walks of life, contributing to maintaining political security and social order and safety.

Along with that, it focused on innovating, improving the quality of training and updating defence and security knowledge for subjects. The Standing Committee of the Provincial Council for Defence and Security Education coordinates with the Provincial Organisation Commission to send class 1 and class 2 cadres to attend training courses on defence and security knowledge held by the Ministry of National Defence and Military Region 7. The Provincial Council for Defence and Security Education opened 01 training course for 152 class-3 cadres. Actively hold defence and security courses for religious dignitaries, business owners,  innkeepers, and workers in industrial zones, etc. In addition to the content stipulated in Circular No. 38/2014/TT-BQP of the Ministry of National Defence, the Councils of Defence and Security Education at all levels have added views and policies of the Party, newly adjusted and supplemented legal documents, the world and regional situations and issues directly affecting Vietnam; socio-economic development achievements and goals of socio-economic development of the province in the new term and new period. Because the Covid-19 pandemic is expected to last for long time, the Councils for Defence and Security Education at all levels have proactively adjusted the plan and method of training in accordance with the situation of each locality. In addition, the province also distributes materials for self-study and writing summation to raise awareness and responsibility for online courses.

In order to achieve an widespread spillover effect in the work of defence and security education, the province directs the Councils for Defence and Security Education at all levels to well perform this work for the pupils, students and all people.

Defence and security education for pupils and students is required to be done in a thorough and essential manner in accordance with regulations. Before each school year, the province directs military agencies at all levels to closely coordinate with the Departments of Education and Training to review and holding training for the contingent of teachers of defence and security to make them qualified enough for this subject. Allocate additional materials to serve the teaching of defence and security subject for high schools and educational institutions with autonomy in the province. Well implement the cooperation in defence and security education between the Centre for Defence and Security Education - Military School of Corps 4 and colleges and universities in the province. Military agencies at all levels have also closely coordinated with schools in the locality to conduct field trips to historical relics, hold defence and security contest, and “Military Semester", etc, Thereby, helping pupils and students master the content, raise awareness and understand the Party's line, policies and laws on national defence and security; clearly see the rights and duties of citizens towards the Fatherland; forge patriotism and aspiration to develop a prosperous and happy country; enthusiastically study and strive to become good students and responsible citizens for the homeland and the country.

For the whole people, the Councils for Defence and Security Education have well implemented the propaganda and dissemination of defence and security knowledge through the columns on mass media and through mobile propaganda. Contents of propaganda are about major events of the nation and locality; guidelines of the Party, policies and laws of the State; legal documents on defence and security, the Law on Militia and Self-Defence, the Law on Reserve Forces, the Law on Military Service; sea and island situations; the leadership and direction of the Party Committees and authorities at all levels on continuing to implement measures to prevent and control the Covid-19 pandemic; plots and tricks of hostile forces against Vietnamese revolution; viewpoints and policies on building the all-people national defence, etc. The Standing Board of the Provincial Council for Defence and Security Education directs its subordinate to coordinate in propagating and disseminating security topics for workers; members of Rubber Company’s Union; owners of private business; owners of hotels and inns, in which, importance is attached to propagating the direction of the Ministry of National Defence on building the Self-Defence forces in enterprises without party organization, which is actively responded by many businesses. Over 1,000 articles and images have been posted on pages and groups in the cyberspace, contributing to refuting false claims and malicious information, guiding public opinion, and creating high consensus in the community.

The province’s achievements in defence and security education in recent years have contributed to maintaining political security, social order and safety, which is an important basis for building the all people’s national defence, the firm all-people national defence posture associated with people's security posture, promoting rapid and sustainable socio-economic development.

Senior Colonel NGUYEN DINH CHUAN, Commissar of the Provincial Military Command, Vice Chairman of the Provincial Council for Defence and Security Education