Hanoi invests $2.17 billion to build public schools through 2025

Hanoi has earmarked more than VND51 trillion (US$2.17 billion) to build 433 national-standard public schools totaling 8,323 classrooms between 2021 and 2025.

Overview of the meeting. Photos: The Hanoi Times.

Vice Chairwoman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Vu Thu Ha revealed the plan during a meeting with the Standing Committee of the National Assembly on April 2.

Ha expressed concern that despite efforts to set up standard classrooms to ensure the best possible learning environment, the city's current planning for its school network is still inadequate due to uneven distribution and rapid population growth.

"New urban areas and industrial parks are being built, which has increased the demand for schools and classrooms, leading to a shortage of facilities," Ha said.

Additionally, despite efforts to support private schools at all levels, only a small percentage of students enroll in them, particularly in suburban high schools. She said that, as a consequence, Hanoi's need for educational facilities and instructional supplies is only growing.

Assuring a strategic, contemporary, all-encompassing, and long-term strategy, Ha said the city is reviewing vacant land and managing planned plots to request enterprises to change the purpose of land use to build schools.

Vice Chairwoman of the Hanoi People's Committee Vu Thu Ha.

According to a plan issued by the Hanoi People's Committee, 1,649 projects will require funding totaling VND51.3 trillion ($2.2 billion) between 2021 and 2025. This includes 139 school projects totaling VND5.94 trillion ($253 million) that fall under the administration and funding purview of the local government.

The city will also set aside funds to support the program of constructing schools that meet national standards and to buy the bare minimum of instructional equipment.

For the 2022–2023 academic year, Hanoi is running a survey and compiling a list of the teaching tools that primary and secondary schools must purchase. High schools are also instructed to conduct surveys and submit lists of suitable and efficient teaching equipment. From 2021 to 2025, approximately VND4.4 trillion ($187.5 million) will be needed to satisfy the demand for funding to buy the necessary school supplies for high schools, vocational training programs, and continuing education facilities.

Ha said the city is researching and putting forth mechanisms and policies in the revised Capital Law to help the growth of education and training in Hanoi.

"Extraordinary investment incentives that go above and beyond the confines of the law are also being considered to promote investment in the education sector. Also, according to Ha, public educational institutions will have the chance to collaborate with foreign educational institutions on educational projects under specified guidelines.

Ha added that Hanoi is reviewing and revising school network planning at all levels to ensure enough classrooms and schools.

At the meeting, Tran Thanh Man, Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly, advised the Hanoi People's Committee to continue studying and evaluating the city's plans for educational facilities.

This will enable them to make gradual adjustments to meet the needs of learners, develop public educational institutions and promote the creation of a quality school system.

Man stated that the emphasis should be on raising the level of education at all levels and working to achieve regional and national economic development and education standards.

To ensure the successful implementation of the program for the renewal of teaching materials and to provide optimal conditions for teaching and general education, the budget allocation for teacher training, investment in facilities and the purchase of teaching equipment should also be prioritized, he added.