Vietnam is preparing a major restructuring of its public education system, with plans to reduce more than 11,000 public schools nationwide as part of efforts to streamline administration, improve governance and concentrate investment in education.
According to the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET), the restructuring is scheduled to be completed before August 30, 2026.
Nationwide consolidation
MOET said all 34 provinces and centrally governed cities had approved school restructuring plans by December 31, 2025.
The first phase resulted in: 457 preschools reorganized; 914 general education schools merged or consolidated; and 709 leadership positions eliminated nationwide.
Among the provinces, An Giang merged 238 schools into 119 new institutions, closed two schools and three satellite campuses, and eliminated 60 temporary or shared classrooms compared with the previous academic year.
Meanwhile, Quang Ninh reduced the number of public educational institutions by 49.12%, cutting 280 of 570 schools, while prioritizing surplus land and facilities for future educational development.
More than 11,000 schools to be reorganized
Students attend class at a primary school in Ninh Binh Province. Photo: Trong Tung.
Following directives from General Secretary To Lam and the Government, MOET has instructed local authorities to continue restructuring the public school network.
The ministry aims to reduce at least 30% of public educational institutions nationwide, while localities with favorable conditions are encouraged to cut as much as 50% compared with the number of schools in operation on July 1, 2025.
Officials estimate the plan will involve the consolidation of more than 11,000 schools across the country.
The restructuring is intended to allow greater investment in school facilities, strengthen governance and improve the organization of teaching and learning.
More teachers, fewer administrators
Following the restructuring, authorities expect to reassign more than 20,000 school administrators.
Around 11,000 management personnel are expected to move into classroom teaching roles, helping address teacher shortages while reducing administrative overhead.
Several localities have already announced ambitious targets.
Hanoi plans to reduce school administrative units by approximately 49%.
Hue aims for a reduction of around 45%.
Nghe An is targeting nearly 39%.
Education experts support the policy
Speaking to VietnamNet, Ho Tuan Anh, principal of Quynh Phuong Secondary School in Nghe An Province, described the restructuring as one of the most significant reforms in Vietnam's education management system.
He said many schools currently operate on a very small scale, with several institutions together enrolling fewer students than a single larger school elsewhere.
"The policy is appropriate," he said, while stressing that implementation must be carefully planned to avoid disrupting teaching and learning, particularly with the new academic year approaching.
He added that local authorities should communicate clearly with parents to reassure them that school mergers will not reduce educational quality or students' learning opportunities.
Another key issue, he said, is ensuring newly consolidated schools are led by capable administrators with strong leadership and management skills.
Students' interests should come first
Vietnam plans to complete the nationwide restructuring of more than 11,000 public schools before August 30, 2026. Illustrative photo: Thanh Hung.
Le Nhu Tien, former Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee for Culture and Education, said reorganizing the school network is an important step toward modernizing education governance.
He argued that consolidation should go beyond simply merging institutions and instead focus on redesigning the school network based on population distribution, community needs and educational efficiency.
The objective, he said, is to reduce administrative staffing while increasing the number of teachers working directly in classrooms.
Tien also called for a nationwide set of standards covering school size, class numbers, student enrollment, teacher staffing and facilities, while allowing flexibility for urban and rural areas.
At the same time, he emphasized that students' interests must remain the highest priority.
"If children previously traveled one or two kilometers to school but have to travel much farther after the restructuring, that would not be appropriate," he said.
Challenges remain
In a report submitted to Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra, MOET acknowledged several challenges identified by local authorities.
These include:
Limited management capacity among some school administrators, requiring additional professional training; The need to improve leadership skills for larger and more complex school systems;
Inadequate infrastructure connecting main campuses with branch campuses and satellite schools; and
The need for further investment in digital connectivity and administrative systems to support integrated management.
Officials say addressing these issues will be essential to ensuring the restructuring improves educational quality while maintaining equal access for students nationwide.
Vietnamnet.vn
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