Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training requests urgent repairs to degraded and unsafe schools

Faced with the reality of many schools being degraded, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training requested that localities temporarily advance the budget for emergency repairs and at the same time develop a long-term investment plan.

On the afternoon of September 25, at a press conference to inform about the socio -economic situation of Ho Chi Minh City, Mr. Ho Tan Minh - Chief of Office of the Department of Education and Training (GD&DT) of Ho Chi Minh City said that in order to prepare for the 2025-2026 school year, the Department issued two official dispatches in July and August 2025, requesting educational institutions and People's Committees of wards, communes, and special zones to review and evaluate the current status of facilities and teaching equipment.

Mr. Ho Tan Minh - Chief of Office of the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City. (Photo: Luong Y)

The focus is on planning for repairs, upgrades, renovations of dilapidated buildings and procurement of equipment. Units must prioritize ensuring enough classrooms for two sessions per day, focusing on remote areas, island communes and special zones.

A representative of the Department of Education and Training affirmed that Ho Chi Minh City will continue to ensure 100% of school places for students in the new school year. However, after the arrangement of administrative boundaries, the city recorded a significant difference in physical facilities between regions.

“Many schools have been invested in for a long time, but are now degraded and need to be maintained, repaired, or rebuilt to ensure safety. Some schools do not meet the physical standards set by the Ministry of Education and Training . Difficulties are concentrated in densely populated areas, bordering or rapidly urbanizing areas, where student overload occurs,” the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City informed.

The missing and degraded items include: classrooms not enough for two sessions per day; functional rooms and libraries not up to standards or not completed; equipment and tables and chairs at some schools are still missing or damaged.

Based on the review results, the Department of Education and Training coordinated with the Department of Finance to advise the City People's Committee on a comprehensive plan, both urgent repairs and new construction investment in areas with rapid population growth. At the same time, the City promoted the socialization of education, ensuring voluntariness, publicity and transparency.

Regarding the collection and disbursement of funds at the beginning of the school year, Mr. Ho Tan Minh said that on September 18, the Department worked with Le Ngoc Han Primary School and Ben Thanh Ward, requesting an immediate end to illegal mobilization. The school must review all classes to prevent similar situations from recurring.

The Department also requested Ben Thanh Ward to review the operational plan, revenue and expenditure estimates and proposed revenue levels of educational institutions, ensuring compliance with regulations. From September 29, the Department will carry out specialized inspections, establish a revenue and expenditure inspection team at the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year, and strictly handle any violations found.

Luong Y

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/so-gddt-tp-hcm-yeu-cau-sua-chua-khan-cap-truong-hoc-xuong-cap-mat-an-toan-ar967449.html