Vietnam announces massive school expansion for 2026‑27 academic year

President and General Secretary Tô Lâm directed a major investment in education ahead of the 2026‑2027 school year, stating that 30 % of Vietnam’s population is of school‑age and that the country must avoid urban growth without sufficient classrooms. Four key directives were issued: finalize national school standards and pilot new governance models; guarantee safe learning environments free from violence, drugs and online risks; coordinate school and social‑infrastructure planning with land‑use and investment procedures; and convert surplus government buildings into schools and health facilities.

Local authorities were tasked with ensuring enough schools, classrooms, teachers, books and equipment. Hanoi will add new schools, while Ho Chi Minh City has launched a “150‑day‑night” drive to complete 1,000 classrooms before 5 September 2026, aiming for 230 rooms per 10,000 residents and a target of 300 per 10,000 by 2028‑29. The city will also provide free textbook borrowing starting with grades 1, 6 and 10, expanding to all grades by 2029, and has earmarked VND 150 billion annually for free textbooks for disadvantaged and ethnic‑minority students. A ceremony to inaugurate new schools and dormitories in border communes is scheduled for 5 September 2026.