Rush to replace new tables and chairs after 'Ultimatum' from HCMC Chairman

Late afternoon on September 22, Vinh Tan ward officials, teachers and militia forces hurriedly replaced desks and chairs for students at Vinh Tan Primary School.

Talking to Tien Phong newspaper reporter, Mr. Nguyen Tan Lap - Chairman of Vinh Tan Ward People's Committee said that the authorities have replaced 100 sets of double desks and chairs at Vinh Tan Primary School. Everything has been completed so that students can use them right away when they come to school tomorrow morning.

According to Mr. Lap, Vinh Tan Primary School only lacked 100 sets of double desks and chairs, so the ward and school proactively provided them.

The classroom has new tables and chairs.

For the walls and door frames in the classrooms that have deteriorated, the school will repaint them at a suitable time so as not to affect the students' study hours.

According to the reporter, all the old desks and chairs have been moved out. The desks and chairs brought to the school for replacement are completely new, not old furniture transferred from another facility.

Previously, Tien Phong newspaper published an article reflecting that many parents of students at Vinh Tan Primary School were heartbroken when they saw their children's classrooms in disrepair, with old desks and chairs, peeling tabletops, and rusty table legs.

In addition, due to the densely populated area and the increase in students after the administrative unit merger, the school had to arrange 50 students per class (the regulation is no more than 35 students per class) but still lacked classrooms. Therefore, the school had to temporarily use the old desks and chairs and 5 classrooms in 2 old buildings.

Immediately after the newspaper reported, the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City urgently directed Vinh Tan ward and Vinh Tan Primary School.

The tables and chairs were completely replaced.

Ward militia participated in supporting the transportation of tables and chairs.

On the morning of September 22, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Van Duoc signed a document directing a general review of all facilities and teaching equipment at public schools in the area, in order to overcome the deterioration that has caused frustration among parents and affected the quality of teaching.

The Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee assigned the Department of Education and Training to coordinate with the People's Committees of wards, communes, and special zones to review and classify the level of damage and degradation, and advise on a comprehensive treatment plan. The report must be submitted to the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee before September 30, 2025, including plans for urgent repairs and new construction investments in areas with rapid population growth to avoid overload.

The document stated: "For Vinh Tan Primary School, the Department of Education and Training shall preside over and coordinate with the Department of Finance to urgently coordinate and immediately arrange tables, chairs and necessary equipment to replace them, ensuring safe and adequate learning conditions for students; complete and report the implementation results to the City People's Committee before September 23, 2025."

More than 100 new double table and chair sets.

From tomorrow, students of Vinh Tan Primary School will be able to use new desks and chairs.

The People's Committees of wards, communes and special zones are assigned to proactively advance funds from the local budget to immediately repair serious damage, ensuring the safety of teachers and students. The review and report of schools at risk of unsafety must be sent to the Department of Education and Training before September 25, 2025.

In addition, the Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee assigned the Department of Finance to coordinate with the Department of Education and Training to advise on plans to allocate funds and arrange capital for repairing, upgrading and building new schools in the 2025-2030 period.