Vietnam Ministry of Education cuts administrative burdens and school competitions

The Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training has issued directives to reduce administrative burdens on educators by cutting unnecessary competitions, paperwork, meetings, and procedures. The goal is to reallocate time and resources toward teaching, student care, and professional development.

Key measures include a ban on organizing student excellence competitions at the school and commune levels, except when used to select candidates for higher-level provincial or national exams. The Ministry emphasized that any remaining competitions must have clear objectives, avoid unnecessary costs, and not pressure students or parents.

To combat the “achievement obsession” in education, the Ministry has instructed local departments to review and eliminate redundant or purely formal activities. Furthermore, there is a push for digital transformation, with a goal to implement digital records and books by the 2026-2027 school year to ensure data is created once and used multiple times, reducing repetitive reporting tasks for teachers.