Deputy Prime Minister Le Tien Chau chaired a meeting in Hanoi on the reorganisation of preschool and general education institutions and the construction and operation of inter-level boarding schools in border communes.
According to a report by the Ministry of Education and Training, all 34 localities nationwide have completed their plans for reorganising education institutions. The number of public institutions fell by 18,975, or 50.6 per cent. More than 28,000 education managers were reassigned to teaching positions.
For the construction of inter-level boarding schools in border communes, all 108 schools under Phase 1 opened for the 2026-2027 academic year. Forty have completed all construction items. Procedures for breaking ground at 121 Phase 2 schools across 17 provinces and cities have been completed. All projects are targeted for completion before August 30, 2027.
In practice, some border boarding schools have held classes while construction work continued. Many projects face shortages of building materials and labour, as well as site-clearance difficulties. Newly established schools have also faced shortages of boarding supervisors, psychological counsellors, nutrition specialists and administrative staff.
After hearing the report and delegates' opinions, Châu asked provincial and municipal People's Committees to take direct responsibility for the results of restructuring and the operation of education institutions in their localities.
They must review all large institutions with multiple education levels, campuses or school sites spread across extensive areas, and promptly adjust those whose scale exceeds management capacity or affects education quality, safety or students' right to education. The review must be completed in October 2026, with operating conditions ensured and managers, teachers and staff assigned.
The Deputy Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Education and Training to receive and consolidate difficulties reported by localities during the restructuring and operation of education institutions. The ministry must coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors, urge them to address matters within their jurisdiction, and promptly report issues beyond its authority to the Government and the Prime Minister.
He assigned specific tasks to particular ministries and agencies so that education institutions would have the resources needed to operate stably and continuously.
The Deputy Prime Minister stressed that absolute safety must be ensured wherever teaching and construction take place simultaneously. No facility may be put into use before it meets all required conditions and has been formally accepted. He also stressed the need to provide enough teachers and staff, funding, and essential conditions for teaching, feeding and caring for students.
The Ministry of Education and Training must monitor progress at every school, compile a list of projects behind schedule, promptly report issues requiring the Deputy Prime Minister's direction, and inspect school operations after the facilities are put into use.
For the 121 Phase 2 schools, the ministry was asked to issue guidance to ministries, sectors and localities on lessons and issues requiring attention based on Phase 1. This should help the next phase be implemented more proactively and meet schedule and quality requirements. The task must be completed in October.
Provincial and municipal People's Committee chairpersons must submit written commitments on the schedule and quality of Phase 2 schools to the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Education and Training before October 20. The ministry will compile the commitments and report to the Prime Minister by the end of October.
Sources: Viet Nam News
