Arranging educational institutions, improving learning efficiency

This is an inevitable step to streamline the apparatus, improve investment quality and efficiency in the spirit of Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW of the Politburo.

Localities urgently review and merge schools

Many localities review and rearrange the school system, focus on small schools, prioritize the construction of new facilities in densely populated and rapidly urbanized areas.

As of October 15, 2025, the whole province of Quang Ninh has completed the arrangement of 520 schools from kindergarten to junior high school into 255 schools, reducing 265 schools; the block under the Department of Education and Training has completed the arrangement of 18 educational institutions into 3 institutions.

After the arrangement, Phu Tho province plans to have 154 units including: 103 high schools, 16 ethnic boarding schools, 33 Vocational Education - Continuing Education Centers, 1 Vocational College, 1 Specialized Education School (increasing 1 school to Quang Trung High School). For schools under the People's Committee at the commune level, basically keep 1,928 primary, secondary and high schools with many levels of education and existing kindergartens.

If some provinces and cities have completed the arrangement and merger, many other localities are in the stage of developing plans and collecting public opinions for implementation.

In Ho Chi Minh City, the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City has also announced and solicited opinions on the project to reorganize public service units in the education - training sector of Ho Chi Minh City in the period of 2025-2030. It is expected that after the arrangement, the whole Ho Chi Minh City will have 256 public service units in the education sector. Currently, the entire Ho Chi Minh City education sector has 279 units under the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee and the Department of Education and Training.

According to the proposed plan of the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City, the city will keep 3 universities; reorganize Saigon University on the basis of merging Ba Ria - Vung Tau Pedagogical College. For colleges and secondary schools, keep 6 schools; arrange 13 colleges and 17 secondary schools. After the arrangement, there are 3 universities, 17 colleges and 1 secondary school under the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City.

For preschool and general education, the draft basically keeps existing schools; only merge within the scope of a commune-level administrative unit, prioritize the retention of convenient schools, dissolve subsidized schools that do not meet standards. In addition, the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City proposed to convert and reorganize 41 continuing education and vocational education - continuing education centers into 37 vocational high schools.

In Hai Phong, Mr. Luong Van Viet - Director of the Department of Education and Training - said that the whole city currently has 1,588 schools from kindergarten to high school, including 1,404 public schools and 184 private schools. There are 596 preschools in particular, including 465 public schools, 131 private schools and 425 independent preschools. The rate of public education children is about 83%, the rate of private education is about 17%.

The network of schools from kindergarten to junior high school is widely distributed, basically meeting the needs of the people. However, in some areas, it has not met the demand, and some private preschools have not ensured quality.

To overcome this, Mr. Viet said that the department will advise on the development of a school planning associated with the planning of urban areas and industrial parks, to meet future learning needs.

Ensuring the rights of learners and teachers

Regarding the arrangement and organization of preschool, general education and continuing education institutions, the Ministry of Education and Training requests that localities complete before December 31, 2025 according to the direction of the Central Government.

The Ministry requires localities to speed up the arrangement of kindergartens, primary schools, secondary schools, and inter-level schools. Along with that, maintain and develop models of ethnic boarding schools, ethnic boarding schools and inter-level boarding schools for students in commune or inter-commune centers; strengthen inspection, promptly remove difficulties and obstacles, ensure stable teaching activities when arranging; prioritize safe travel conditions, limit costs and risks for children and students... especially in disadvantaged areas, border areas, and islands.

Dr. Le Duc Thuan - education expert - believes that the right merger decision is just the beginning. For the new apparatus to operate effectively, units need to focus on the following 4 key tasks: "stabilizing the organization and personnel; Building a new school culture; Planning communication and enrollment; Reviewing and unifying training programs.

Regarding the group of contents on organizational stability, Mr. Thuan said: "The most important thing is to develop new working regulations and internal spending regulations and thoroughly and reasonably resolve issues on regimes and policies for affected teachers and staff so that they can work with peace of mind".

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