Minister of Education and Training Hoang Minh Son has outlined plans to reorganize schools across general, higher and vocational education in the 2026-2027 academic year.
Minister of Education and Training Hoang Minh Son. Photo: Ministry of Education and Training
As Vietnam moves ahead with the reorganization and merger of educational institutions from schools to universities, VietNamNet spoke with Minister of Education and Training Hoang Minh Son ahead of the new 2026-2027 academic year.
In the 2026-2027 academic year, schools across the country will begin operating under a new model following the reorganization and merger process. What guidance will the Ministry of Education and Training provide to help schools capitalize on the benefits while minimizing difficulties after the mergers?
Minister Hoang Minh Son: On the positive side, reorganizing schools will allow us to make better use of the teaching workforce. Some people currently in management positions could move back into direct teaching roles. They are highly qualified and experienced educators, and having them return to the classroom can improve teaching quality while also helping address the current teacher shortage.
A good teacher who previously taught at only one school may now be able to teach at several campuses. Students will have greater access to strong teachers in individual subjects. Before the mergers, one school might have lacked teachers in one subject while another faced shortages in a different subject. With schools operating on a larger scale, teaching staff can clearly be deployed more effectively.
The important thing is that mergers must not affect students’ access to education. Students will continue studying where they are and may even find it more convenient.
The challenge is that schools will become larger while the number of administrators, principals and vice principals declines. That requires a new governance model and a different approach to school management. Schools cannot simply continue with a purely administrative management model.
The Ministry of Education and Training has issued guidance that serves as a governance framework for large schools. It covers everything from objectives and teacher deployment to decentralization, the division of responsibilities among principals and vice principals, and the management of facilities, academic affairs and finances.
The ministry will soon roll out a national digital education governance platform to support schools, with all institutions operating on a common digital platform.
By combining guidance on decentralization and the allocation of responsibilities within schools with digital tools, I believe we can strengthen governance capacity and, in turn, improve the efficiency and quality of educational institutions following the reorganization.
During the initial stage of the mergers, some school administrators have had to move from principal or vice principal positions back into teaching, while schools are also taking on a range of new educational responsibilities. How do you view these challenges? What can be done to ensure that larger schools continue to provide quality education?
I understand the concerns and feelings of our teachers and education staff. As minister, I am deeply grateful for their willingness to take on new responsibilities. Teachers are putting the common good first, with the goal of providing students with the best possible quality of education.
There will inevitably be some disruption during the initial stage of the reorganization. The Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Home Affairs have advised the government on issuing a decree on policies designed to provide teachers with the best possible support within existing conditions.
Teachers and students in Ninh Binh attend the opening ceremony for the 2025-2026 academic year. Photo: Pham Trong Tung
Local authorities also have a responsibility to adjust and deploy teaching staff during the reorganization process. In some cases, teachers may be assigned to schools closer to home, making their work more convenient.
Localities also have their own policies to support and encourage teachers. This is extremely important because the quality of education ultimately depends on the teaching workforce.
In the coming period, the Ministry of Education and Training will continue advising the government on policies for teachers in accordance with the Law on Teachers. This is not only about salaries — with the law stipulating that teachers should be “ranked highest in the public administrative and non-business salary system” — but also about social recognition and respect for the profession.
Only when these policies are properly implemented and the role of teachers is genuinely valued can educators feel secure in their work and fully dedicate themselves to their profession.
The reorganization is not limited to general education but also extends to universities. Could you outline the specific plan and timeline?
The recent Party Central Committee conference set out very specific policies. The Politburo has issued its conclusions, and the government has adopted an action program assigning the Ministry of Education and Training to take the lead, in coordination with ministries, sectors and localities, in reorganizing higher education and vocational education institutions.
Vocational education institutions will be streamlined, with the number of organizational units reduced by at least 30%, while their management will be transferred to local authorities.
The Ministry of Education and Training has coordinated with ministries and sectors, prepared a consolidated report and proposed an implementation plan for September 2026, one month ahead of the deadline stipulated in the Politburo’s conclusion.
For higher education institutions, the task will be more difficult. Most universities and other higher education institutions are large, with different fields of study, market segments, missions and strategies.
There may be difficulties in the short term, but in the long run, the purpose of restructuring and reorganization is to make each institution and the overall system stronger while eliminating low-quality and inefficient institutions.
The ultimate goal is to develop an outstanding, high-quality workforce capable of meeting the country’s socio-economic development needs.
The Ministry of Education and Training is finalizing the plan and will work step by step with ministries and sectors, ensuring that each stage of the reorganization is carried out on a solid footing. The aim is to build a higher education system and network that operates efficiently and delivers high quality.
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