Comply with criteria when merging educational institutions

The reorganization of public education facilities is an important step that must be taken carefully to avoid disruption to students, parents and teachers.

The Standing Secretariat has just signed and issued Conclusion No. 221-KL/TW on the situation and performance of the political system and local government apparatus at two levels. Accordingly, provincial and municipal Party Committees coordinate with the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) and the Ministry of Home Affairs to urgently arrange communal-level public educational institutions (kindergartens, primary schools, secondary schools, and inter-level schools), to be completed before December 31, 2025.

Actively deploy

In fact, the arrangement of public educational institutions is being actively implemented by the provinces. For example, in Thanh Hoa, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee has just signed a decision to issue a plan to arrange public service units and state-owned enterprises under the management of the province. According to the report, before October 2017, the whole Thanh Hoa province had 2,551 public service units, including 2,166 units in the education sector.

According to the new plan, in the field of education, Thanh Hoa province will reorganize Hong Duc University on the basis of merging with the University of Culture, Sports and Tourism (will be put into operation in the first quarter of 2026). For colleges: Maintain the Medical College; reorganize Thanh Hoa Industrial College on the basis of merging with Nghi Son College; reorganize the Agricultural College on the basis of merging with the Industrial Vocational College.

For secondary schools; continuing education and vocational education centers (GDTX-GDNN): Maintain Thanh Hoa Transport Vocational College (as it is an autonomous unit for regular and investment expenditures); maintain Thanh Hoa Mountainous Vocational College and Thanh Hoa Tourism and Commerce Vocational College (develop and implement a plan to ensure regular expenditures in the period 2026 - 2030); convert Thanh Vocational College, Specially Difficult Youth with Disabilities into a public specialized educational institution for people with disabilities according to the plan. Convert Thach Thanh Vocational College, Nga Son Vocational College and Bim Son Vocational College into 3 vocational secondary schools; merge 19 GDTX-GDNN Centers with class sizes that do not meet regulations, have few students, and are suitable in terms of distance and area into 10 vocational secondary schools equivalent to high school level under the Department of Education and Training to provide public services in inter-commune and ward areas.

For kindergartens, primary schools, secondary schools and general schools with many levels, the arrangement is according to the content of Official Dispatch No. 6165/BGDĐT-GDPT dated October 2, 2025 of the Ministry of Education and Training.

In Ho Chi Minh City, in the submission to the Standing Committee of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee on the proposal to arrange public service units in the city, there are 2 options to arrange schools from kindergarten to university. According to the draft submission, the city's Department of Education and Training will arrange from 278 units, including 22 units belonging to the city and 256 units belonging to the Department of Education and Training, which will be arranged to 256 units, a reduction of 22 units.

Specifically, 198 units will be maintained, including: 170 high schools and general schools with many levels; 3 public kindergartens, 22 centers to support the development of inclusive education and specialized education schools; 1 center for technical - general education and career guidance; 2 existing centers with autonomy in regular expenditure: Ho Chi Minh City Foreign Language - Information Technology Center, Information Center and Educational Program.

In addition, 39 universities, colleges, and intermediate schools will be reorganized into 21 universities and colleges, with no more intermediate schools (reducing 18 units including 1 college and 17 intermediate schools). At the same time, convert and reorganize 41 Continuing Education and Vocational Training Centers, including 40 units under the Department of Education and Training and 1 unit under the Youth Volunteer Force into 37 vocational secondary schools, reducing 4 units. Specifically, keep 2 universities, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine and Thu Dau Mot. Reorganize Saigon University (merge Ba Ria - Vung Tau Pedagogical College into Saigon University).

Regarding colleges and intermediate schools, Ho Chi Minh City proposed to keep 5 colleges including: Vietnam - Singapore, Vietnam - Korea Binh Duong, Ba Ria - Vung Tau Technical and Technology, Thu Duc Technology, Ho Chi Minh City Architecture - Construction and Semi-public College of Technology and Business Administration (due to disputes with the school's founding shareholders).

Along with that, the HCM City People's Committee proposed not to arrange two schools managed by enterprises, namely Saigontourist College of Tourism and Hospitality and Suleco College.

Teachers and students at the school in Sai Khao village, Muong Ly commune, Thanh Hoa province. Photo: THANH TUAN

Ensure convenience for learners

However, the arrangement of kindergartens, primary schools, secondary schools, high schools and multi-level schools is carried out relatively cautiously. In mid-November 2025, the Party Committee of the Ministry of Education and Training issued Official Dispatch 131-CV/DU 2025 to the Standing Committees of Provincial Party Committees of provinces and cities, emphasizing the viewpoint of "maintaining existing schools", including: kindergartens, primary schools, secondary schools, high schools and inter-level schools. Mergers and adjustments are only carried out when really necessary and must ensure convenience for people and students.

According to the Ministry of Education and Training, many localities have implemented the arrangement of schools and classes in a systematic, public and transparent manner. However, there are still places where the implementation is hasty, potentially affecting teaching and learning, especially in disadvantaged areas or densely populated urban areas.

Therefore, the Ministry requires localities to comply with the criteria on school size, class size, teaching staff, and staffing standards; consider facilities, population density, and geographical conditions before merging; and absolutely not let streamlining affect students' right to study and educational security.

The Ministry of Education and Training also said that through the review, it was found that there were violations of state management of education and training when arranging and merging schools. Some provinces arranged to reduce nearly 50% of general schools in the province. Regarding this, the Ministry of Education and Training has established an inspection team.

In Official Dispatch 6165/BGDĐT-GDPT in 2025, the Ministry of Education and Training clearly stated that school/school mergers will only be carried out within the commune level, with priority given to retaining schools with good facilities and convenient transportation; preschools will not be merged with general education; each commune must have at least a preschool, primary school, and secondary school (except in special cases).

The Ministry of Education and Training also reminded localities to properly arrange the team of managers, teachers and staff for educational institutions. The arrangement must be carried out according to the job position plan; ensuring balance between educational levels and types of educational institutions.

Proposal to maintain the commune-level educational public service unit

Regarding public service units under the People's Committees at the commune level, according to the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, there are currently 2,026 units, including 1,930 educational service units, 38 cultural and sports service centers and 58 other service units (Relic Management Board, Public Works Enterprise, Children's House, Market Management Board, bus station...). With these units, the Party Committee of the City People's Committee proposed to arrange, specifically: Maintain 1,930 service units in the field of education. The establishment of new schools will be according to the requirements of school development in the localities according to demand.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/tuan-thu-tieu-chi-khi-sap-nhap-co-so-giao-duc-196251202214142855.htm