Many public schools in HCM City and Hanoi have had to stop providing lunch and allowing pupils to sleep while doubling the number of pupils per class.

Pupils at Quang Trung Secondary School, HCM City, ready for new school year

The Increasing population and superstitions about lucky birth years are putting huge pressure on big city schools. As the result, HCM City and Hanoi are having to deal with overcrowded public schools due to the sheer number of children born in 2003 and 2012.

Statistics from HCM City Department of Education and Training show that the city will have over 1,677,000 pupils this school year. Nursery and primary schools will see more new pupils than other grades.

About 14,160 pupils will enrol in the first grade this school year in Binh Tan District alone, an increase of 4,000 pupils over last year. 5,400 pupils graduated from secondary schools but up to 8,400 pupils will enrol.

Ngo Van Tuyen, head of Binh Tan Department of Education and Training, said there was no new school in the area. Only 11 new classrooms have been built at primary schools and five new classrooms for secondary schools. Due to lack of secondary schools, graduated primary pupils from Binh Tri Dong B Ward are sent to schools in nearby wards.

Primary pupils are usually have morning and afternoon classes so they eat lunch and nap at school. But in order to have enough classes for all pupils, the authorities in Go Vap, Thu Duc and Tan Phu, where the population is increasing, have to increase the number of half-day classes as well as the number of pupils per class.

Many parents have complained and tried to insist to keep their children in full-day classes but failed.

This year, Hanoi has 130,000 new primary pupils, an increase of 30,000 over last year. According to regulations, the maximum number of pupils per class is 35 but in reality, in many schools in Hoang Mai, Cau Giay and Thanh Xuan districts, up to 60 pupils have to share one classroom. Thanh Xuan Trung Primary School has to group up to 69 pupils in a class.

Le Hong Vu, head of Tay Do District Department of Education and Training, said, Chu Van An Primary School only had 520 enrollment quota but more than 100 pupils still want to get in. Those pupils were sent to Xuan La and Dong Thai schools.

Most schools have to find ways to make the most out of their facilities to meet the demands.

Nguoi Lao Dong/Dtinews