Ho Chi Minh City 'untangles' post-merger education businesses

What should a school with multiple campuses do after the merger? How to re-apply for a license, change the seal after the merger... Many concerns of educational enterprises have been sent to the Ho Chi Minh City government after 1 and a half months of implementing a 2-level government.

Ms. Pham Thi Thuy Vinh, founder of Ngo Thoi Nhiem Primary - Secondary - High School, asked a question at the conference on August 15 - Photo: MY DUNG

About 2,000 businesses in the education- related business sector in Ho Chi Minh City attended the Business-City Government Dialogue conference, which took place yesterday, August 15. The conference was "hot" with a series of concerns and questions from businesses on many issues.

What to do if schools have the same name after merging?

Ms. Pham Thi Thuy Vinh, founder of Ngo Thoi Nhiem Primary - Secondary - High School, started with concerns about the procedures for merging two Ngo Thoi Nhiem schools in Ho Chi Minh City (old) and Binh Duong province (old).

"Both schools have the same investor and the same school name. Now we have to figure out how to merge the two schools to simplify administrative procedures. In addition, please guide us on how to solve the difficulties for some teachers teaching at both schools because according to current regulations, teachers must sign a permanent contract with one school and a guest teaching contract with the other school, while both schools have the same investor and are currently located in the new Ho Chi Minh City area," Ms. Vinh commented.

Responding to this issue, a representative of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training said that after the merger, the department is requiring units to complete the documents to change the governing body.

When the decision to change the governing body is issued, the school headquarters will belong to Binh Duong ward, so Ngo Thoi Nhiem Primary - Secondary - High School in the old Binh Duong area after the merger will automatically be renamed Ngo Thoi Nhiem Primary - Secondary - High School - Binh Duong.

"Therefore, after the decision to change the governing body is made, if the investor wants to change the entire operating model and organizational structure of these two schools into one, the investor must complete the merger proposal in accordance with the provisions of Article 30 of Decree 125 of the Government and submit it to the City People's Committee for consideration," said a representative of the Department of Education and Training.

At the workshop, many businesses were concerned about the procedures for changing the seals of schools, school branches, centers, and companies. "I want to know when the reissuance of seals for schools and businesses will be implemented?" - a representative of Hoang Viet Education Development Investment Joint Stock Company asked and shared that the police agency said they were not subject to the issuance of seals by the police agency. The company decides on the type, quantity, form, and content of the company's seal.

Responding to this issue, Ms. Huynh Thi Hong Thuy - Deputy Head of the Department of Personnel Organization of the Department of Education and Training - said that for high schools, they are under the management of the department, the schools should contact the department. For schools from junior high school to primary school and kindergarten that need to reissue seals after the merger, they should contact the People's Committee of the ward or commune where the school is located. The Department has provided instructions to the People's Committee of the ward or commune on the issue of reissuing seals for units under the management of the education sector.

How does a license change work?

Many company representatives present at the conference asked whether after the merger, the business needs to change or re-register its operating license. If the school's operating license needs to be changed, who should I contact and how should I proceed?

Responding to the above issues, a representative of the Department of Education and Training said that the licensing of educational activities is currently divided into two types: domestic investment capital and foreign investment capital. The licensing of preschools is implemented according to the provisions of Decree No. 125 dated October 5, 2024 of the Government on investment and operation conditions in the field of education and according to the decentralization, delegation, and authority of the two-level government.

Similarly, licensing for investment in primary and secondary schools is also implemented according to the provisions of Decree 125 mentioned above. Therefore, enterprises at the level of secondary schools, primary schools, and preschools will contact the People's Committees of wards, communes, and special zones in Ho Chi Minh City for more information. For high schools, units contact the Department of Education and Training.

After the merger, how will the extension of the foreign language center establishment dossier be handled? Cambridge Company (Thu Dau Mot Ward, Ho Chi Minh City) in the former Binh Duong Province said that the company needs guidance on extending the establishment of a foreign language center. Which unit will they contact and which unit has the authority to handle this extension?

According to the representative of the Department of Education and Training, to extend the establishment of a foreign language center, the company must prepare documents. These documents must be implemented according to the documents for establishing a foreign language and information technology center according to Article 44 of Decree 125 of the Government, and must meet all the conditions for establishing a center.

Regarding procedures, the company must comply with the regulations issued by Decision No. 3362 of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee dated June 28, 2025 on promulgating the list of administrative procedures under the management scope of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training.

Continue to accompany and support educational businesses

Responding to Tuoi Tre, Mr. Nguyen Ke Toai, Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City, affirmed that although the dialogue between the Ho Chi Minh City government and educational enterprises has ended physically, the government will continue to accompany and support enterprises in the near future.

For any questions about administrative procedures, about post-merger problems in the education sector, units that need answers, please contact the administrative department of the department for further answers.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tp-hcm-go-roi-cho-doanh-nghiep-giao-duc-sau-sap-nhap-20250816085313036.htm