Ensuring adequate facilities for the new school year.

Việt Nam•27/08/2024

The 2024-2025 school year is fast approaching. This is also the time when various sectors and localities in the province are focusing on completing the infrastructure to serve the new school year.

During the period 2021-2025, to ensure the infrastructure meets the requirements of Circular No. 13 dated May 26, 2020, issued by the Ministry of Education and Training on the promulgation of regulations on infrastructure standards for preschools, primary schools, junior high schools, high schools, and multi-level general education schools, the entire province needs to invest in an additional 1,926 classrooms and subject-specific classrooms; 52 administrative buildings and functional rooms; 26 ethnic cultural centers; 27 warehouses; 1,186 boarding student dormitories and teacher staff dormitories with enclosed bathrooms; 77 canteens and kitchens; 65 individual toilet facilities; and 21 multi-purpose buildings. The Provincial People's Committee has prioritized significant resources (3,452.56 billion VND, with 255 project items) to invest in supplementing infrastructure for schools in the province during the 2021-2025 period.

As of the end of July 2024, the entire province had completed, handed over, and put into use 157 out of 255 projects (reaching 61.57% of the plan), including 1,053 classrooms and subject-specific classrooms; 24 administrative buildings and functional buildings; 15 ethnic cultural centers; 6 warehouses; 567 teacher's staff quarters and boarding student dormitories; 7 kitchens and dining halls; 34 sanitary facilities; and 5 multi-purpose buildings.

For the procurement of minimum teaching equipment for preschool and general education to implement the 2018 General Education Program and universal preschool education for 4-year-olds in the province during the 2022-2027 period, the total capital requirement is VND 849.254 billion, of which the province has allocated VND 403.930 billion, reaching 47.56% of the total capital requirement; the disbursed value to date is VND 209.962 billion, equivalent to 51.98% of the actual allocated capital. For 2024 alone, the allocated budget is VND 153.397 billion. Currently, one unit has completed the procurement and acceptance of equipment (Muong Khuong district); one unit has signed a procurement contract with the supplier (Bao Thang district); and two units have been listed in the tender documents and evaluated (Sa Pa town and Bat Xat district). Six units are currently conducting price appraisals and preparing bidding documents (Bao Yen, Van Ban, Bac Ha, Si Ma Cai districts, Lao Cai city, and the Department of Education and Training); one unit is reviewing and compiling a list of projects to be submitted to the Department of Education and Training for appraisal (Sa Pa Town Vocational Education and Continuing Education Center).

According to Mr. Cao Thanh Hai, Head of the General Planning Department (Department of Education and Training), the Provincial People's Committee is paying special attention to and directing investors to accelerate the progress of construction of school buildings and classrooms in the 2021-2025 period that have been approved. The Department of Education and Training and the People's Committees of districts, towns, and cities are actively advising the province to prioritize resources for investment in the construction and repair of school facilities and classrooms, and the purchase of teaching equipment...

“School facilities and classrooms have basically met the teaching and learning needs for the new school year 2024-2025. Specifically, the ratio of classrooms to classes is high (reaching nearly 1 classroom per class, compared to the national average of 0.83 classrooms per class), basically ensuring two sessions of learning per day. The educational environment and school grounds are green, clean, and beautiful,” Mr. Cao Thanh Hai affirmed.

To obtain the necessary facilities to meet the teaching and learning needs for the 2024-2025 school year, Lao Cai province must overcome many difficulties. These include the significant need for investment in building school infrastructure and purchasing teaching equipment, while the province's budget is limited, mobilizing social resources, especially in mountainous areas, is very difficult; and the central government lacks a specific mechanism to provide budgetary support to mountainous and disadvantaged provinces.

Expanding land for educational facilities, especially in wards of Lao Cai city, district centers, and some highland communes, particularly in Sa Pa town, is very difficult due to the lack of reserve land or the rugged terrain. Some educational facilities face difficulties in arranging construction sites due to limited land area and complex terrain; the high costs of land leveling and compensation for site clearance lead to delays in the construction progress of projects.

Some classrooms were previously built to implement the 2006 General Education Program, with primary school classrooms designed to have an area of 43.2 m2/room and secondary school classrooms 54 m2/room. Therefore, when implementing the 2018 General Education Program, students learn using new methods and engage in group discussions, requiring larger classroom areas, leading to significant difficulties in conducting classroom educational activities. However, with great effort and high determination, Lao Cai province has prioritized resources to invest in and help educational institutions in the province have adequate facilities to meet the requirements of innovation and improve the quality of education.

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