Ho Chi Minh City is taking significant steps to improve its educational system by proposing a restructuring plan for nearly 1,900 public schools. This initiative is aimed at enhancing the quality of education while also addressing inefficiencies caused by a bloated administrative framework.

The Department of Education and Training has recently presented a draft proposal to the city, which is home to the largest network of public schools in Vietnam, comprising 2,188 institutions from preschool to high school. The department has identified that many of these schools are small and fragmented, which does not align with the developmental needs and population scale of the administrative units. This situation complicates the standardization of facilities and teaching equipment according to national standards.

Currently, each school has its own principal, vice principals, accountants, clerks, and health staff, leading to excessive administrative costs. The paradox of having an abundance of management staff while lacking enough teachers directly in the classroom is hindering the overall improvement of educational quality in the city.

In response to the government's directive, the city aims to reduce the number of public schools by at least 30% from the current figures. Based on the proposed principles and plans, the Department estimates that 1,891 schools will be restructured, with a cautious approach that includes pilot programs before wider implementation and a timeline for impact assessment.

The proposal does not include merging preschools with primary schools, nor does it combine general education with vocational education or special education with mainstream schools. Schools with over 50 classes will also remain unchanged. The department suggests prioritizing the reorganization of schools at the same level or those located close to each other.

Preschools with fewer than 10 groups or classes will be merged, and smaller schools will integrate with larger ones to foster development. This restructuring aims to minimize disruptions for students and teachers. Each ward or commune will retain at least one preschool, primary school, and secondary school, with a preference for multi-level schools in sparsely populated areas or regions with difficult access.

After the mergers, preschools will have no more than three campuses and a maximum of 30 groups or classes. Similarly, primary and secondary schools will be limited to larger scales, with no more than 100 classes. This plan aligns with the national initiative to restructure school systems across the country. Earlier this month, the Ministry of Education and Training emphasized that restructuring should be linked to streamlining management, reducing administrative staff, and increasing teaching staff. Additionally, the ministry is piloting a model of a main school with branches and consolidating multiple management units to form larger educational institutions.

On July 10, the government instructed localities to streamline their operations and reduce the number of public schools by about 30%, with a deadline for completing the restructuring set for August 30.