Vietnam advances nationwide school consolidation plan

Vietnam is accelerating a large‑scale restructuring of its school network, with local authorities required to finalise reorganisation proposals by 30 July and complete the whole process by 30 August. The plan calls for each commune or ward to maintain a single main school, supported by branch classes, while administrative and support staff such as accountants, treasurers and clerks will be shared across facilities.

In Ninh Bình province, the scheme would cut the number of commune‑level public school management units by about 68%, consolidating 1,413 schools and education centres. After mergers, each school will have only one principal, with vice‑principals assigned based on class size, student numbers and distance to branch sites, all within the approved staffing budget. Authorities will also reassess teacher and staff numbers, reallocating personnel through transfers, secondments or joint teaching assignments to ensure continuous instruction.

Similar restructuring guidelines are being applied in other provinces, such as Phú Thọ, where officials stress that mergers must be based on comprehensive reviews of student populations, geography, facilities and teaching capacity, rather than mechanical consolidation.