Vietnam orders consolidation of public schools, cutting about 30% of facilities

On 10 July 2026 Deputy Prime Minister Phạm Thị Thanh Trà signed directive 777/TTg‑TCCV directing the reorganisation of public education facilities at provincial and communal levels in Vietnam. The plan covers kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, vocational and continuing‑education institutions. It seeks to reduce roughly 30 % of public school sites compared with 1 July 2025, aligning the school network with the two‑tier local‑government model, population distribution and regional development plans.

The reform aims to shift focus from merely cutting administrative nodes to restructuring schools by size, expanding class capacities, reallocating staff from management to teaching, and promoting digital transformation. It stresses preserving access in mountainous, border, island and ethnic‑minority regions, ensuring readiness for the 2026‑27 academic year and prohibiting the merger of kindergartens with primary schools. The government will monitor implementation and adjust policies as needed.