Construction of 100 schools in border areas started simultaneously: Will be a model in terms of facilities, educational organization, management and operation

On November 9, the Ministry of Education and Training coordinated with 14 border provinces to organize a groundbreaking ceremony for 100 inter-level boarding schools in the mainland border communes. This is an event of profound political, social and humanitarian significance. On this occasion, a reporter from the Government E-newspaper had an interview with Mr. Tran Thanh Dam, Director of the Department of Financial Planning (Ministry of Education and Training), to clarify the policy, scale and orientation of the program.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and delegates perform the groundbreaking ceremony for a primary and secondary boarding school in the mountainous commune of Bat Mot - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Sir, what is the significance of the groundbreaking ceremony for inter-level boarding schools in the land border communes on November 9 for the education sector and for the people in the border areas?

Mr. Tran Thanh Dam: The groundbreaking ceremony for inter-level boarding schools in the land border communes was broadcast live on VTV1 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., with the central point at Yen Khuong commune, Thanh Hoa province, where Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended and gave a speech.

The remaining 13 bridges were held in the following provinces: Lang Son, Cao Bang, Lao Cai, Tuyen Quang, Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Son La, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Tri, Dak Lak, Lam Dong and An Giang. Attending these bridges were Deputy Prime Ministers, some members of the Government, leaders of central ministries and branches; leaders of localities; education managers, teachers, students and local people.

This is an event of profound political, social and humanitarian significance, demonstrating the special attention of the Party and State to compatriots, soldiers, especially students in border areas - considered the "fence" of the Fatherland. This is also an activity aimed at ensuring fairness in access to education, narrowing regional disparities, improving social security and strengthening national defense and security in border areas.

Mr. Tran Thanh Dam: emphasized that building a boarding school system in border communes is an urgent requirement.

Why is the construction of a boarding school system in border communes considered an urgent requirement?

Mr. Tran Thanh Dam: According to statistics, the whole country has 956 general schools in 248 land border communes. Of these, there are only about 22 ethnic boarding general schools (PTDTNT) with a scale of 7,644 students (accounting for only 2.3% of the total number of schools and 1.2% of the general students in the area enjoying the State's boarding policy); there are about 160 ethnic boarding general schools (PTDTBT), with a scale of 51,131 students (accounting for about 16.7% of the total number of schools and 8.18% of the total number of general students in the land border communes enjoying the State's boarding policy).

Of the total 625,255 students in the border communes, the number of students who are not qualified to study at the ethnic minority boarding schools or boarding schools but need to be in boarding schools or semi-boarding schools is about 273,244 students (accounting for 43.7% of the total current high school students). Thus, the number of students in need of boarding schools or semi-boarding schools in the border communes on the mainland accounts for a very high proportion.

In addition, the physical conditions of schools in border communes are still very difficult and lacking, not meeting the minimum requirements, not ensuring the needs of boarding and semi-boarding students; the teaching staff is still lacking and not properly arranged, greatly affecting the quality of education, leading to inequity in education.

To improve the quality of education, narrow the regional gap, and create a source of quality cadres in border areas to meet the requirements of national development in the new period, the Ministry of Education and Training has reported and proposed to the Party and State leaders, headed by General Secretary To Lam, the policy of building boarding schools for students in remote, border, and island areas, especially in mainland border communes.

Can you tell us specifically about the scale and scope of investment in the project to build an inter-level boarding school in the border area?

Mr. Tran Thanh Dam: According to the Conclusion Notice No. 81-TB/TW dated July 18, 2025 of the Politburo on the policy of investing in building schools for border communes and Resolution No. 298/NQ-CP dated September 26, 2025 of the Government promulgating the Government's Action Plan to implement Conclusion Notice 81-TB/TW, the whole country has 248 land border communes planned to invest in 248 inter-level primary and secondary boarding schools.

Of these, 100 schools were selected for phase 1 construction investment, with a total investment capital requirement of nearly 20,000 billion VND. The Ministry of Finance was assigned to allocate and manage capital sources; localities directly implemented construction investment according to specific mechanisms, ensuring progress, quality and efficiency in using state capital.

The schools that started construction simultaneously on November 9, 2025 are all on the list of 100 schools approved by the Government for investment in 2025, expected to be completed and put into use before the start of the 2026-2027 school year.

In parallel with public investment capital, the Ministry of Education and Training was assigned to coordinate with the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and member organizations to launch the program "The whole country joins hands to build schools for border communes" and the movement "All for beloved border students" to mobilize the strength of solidarity of the entire people, businesses, organizations, and individuals at home and abroad to contribute to building, maintaining and developing a sustainable school system in border areas.

The "inter-level boarding school" model will meet the highest standards of general school facilities today.

Meet the highest standards

How is the "inter-level boarding school" model different from current boarding and semi-boarding schools, sir?

Mr. Tran Thanh Dam: The Ministry of Construction has designed the model of inter-level boarding schools to ensure technical standards, scale, and classroom area; a synchronous, modern, sustainable, and safe system of facilities; and to meet the highest current standards of general school facilities.

Each school is arranged with a study area, a dormitory, a dining hall, a cultural and sports area, a library, subject classrooms, and a teachers' dormitory, ensuring comprehensive conditions for study, living, and training.

The Ministry of Education and Training has identified this as a new school model, not a "compressed school" or a "dispersed school", but a modern, synchronous model, combining flexible boarding and semi-boarding policies, suitable for the terrain conditions and circumstances of students in border areas.

The first 100 schools to be started in 2025 are identified as "model schools", ensuring both advanced facilities and being models in educational organization, management and operation.

Schools are built to comprehensively develop students in terms of morality, intelligence, physical fitness, and aesthetics, with spaces for study, sports, music, fine arts, career guidance, and cultural development, while ensuring adequate boarding and boarding accommodation conditions.

This is the first step towards completing 248 schools in the 2025-2028 period, contributing to gradually eliminating regional gaps and creating a sustainable knowledge belt in the border areas.

What are the directions of the Ministry of Education and Training in attracting teachers and policies for students in border areas?

Mr. Tran Thanh Dam: Along with the construction of inter-level boarding schools in land border communes, The Ministry of Education and Training is coordinating with ministries, branches and localities to research and develop specific policies to arrange, train, attract and retain a team of competent and dedicated teachers to meet the educational requirements of border areas. The policies are expected to be issued before the 2026–2027 school year, in sync with the completion of construction projects.

For students in border areas, they will study and live in a modern, safe, fully-equipped environment, with the State ensuring accommodation, training and capacity development. The goal is to ensure fairness in access to education, improve people's knowledge, train local human resources, and contribute to sustainable development in border areas.

Thank you very much.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/khoi-cong-dong-loat-100-truong-hoc-vung-bien-se-la-mo-hinh-mau-ve-co-so-vat-chat-to-chuc-giao-duc-quan-li-van-hanh-5064329.html