Ninh Binh province is undertaking a significant reorganization of its educational system, with a target to reduce the number of educational institutions by 57.1% before the 2026-2027 school year. The provincial government has mandated that the restructuring, including the selection and appointment of school principals and key management staff, must be completed by August 20.

On August 7, the Ninh Binh People's Committee approved a comprehensive plan to reorganize public preschool, general education, and continuing education institutions within the province. This plan is a response to the challenges posed by the large-scale educational network that emerged after the administrative merger of provincial units, which inherited three different school systems with varying socio-economic conditions, population density, and management methods.

In many newly merged urban and rural areas, multiple schools of the same level exist in close proximity, leading to some schools being small or overcrowded. The urban areas, industrial zones, and rapidly urbanizing regions face increasing student numbers, thereby creating pressure on classroom space and the organization of two daily teaching sessions. Conversely, some rural areas have fewer classes and students but still maintain a full administrative structure.

To address these disparities, the province aims to restructure the educational network not merely to reduce the number of institutions mechanically but to realign it according to population size, distribution, educational demand, and local development goals. For preschool, primary, and secondary schools under the management of local authorities, the chosen model will be large-scale single-level schools, comprising a main school and several branches.

Significantly, the existing facilities will largely remain in use for educational activities, and the management structure will be reorganized to include one principal, several deputy principals, a shared administrative team, and specialized groups tailored to each branch. Depending on the scale and administrative needs, each branch may have a deputy principal, while smaller branches will not have separate deputy principals.

The province has prioritized merging schools of the same level that are located near each other while considering transportation conditions, student safety, and the ability to organize full-day classes. The overarching principle is to minimize changes in learning locations, ensuring that students do not face disruptions in their education and that access to education remains unaffected.

It is projected that the restructuring will lead to a reduction of 827 educational institutions, representing a 57.1% decrease. The plan stipulates that areas failing to meet certain population or area criteria will be organized to have one preschool, one primary school, and one secondary school.

By September 30, the appointments of principals, deputy principals, and educational support staff must be finalized. The urgency of this restructuring is evident, as local authorities are required to complete detailed proposals and submit them for approval by mid-August. The results will be reported to the Department of Education and Training, ensuring that the transition does not negatively impact students and parents.