The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training has instructed ward, commune and special-zone authorities, affiliated units, and organizations and individuals operating in the education sector to implement the Government's Decree 360/2026/ND-CP.

Notably, the department has ordered a review of the names of educational institutions established or authorized to operate before September 17, 2026, when the decree took effect.

Under Clause 7, Article 47 of Decree 360, schools whose names contain terms such as "international," "national," "Vietnam," the names of other countries or similar expressions must undergo renaming procedures if their use could mislead the public about the institutions' legal status, scope of operations or government sponsorship.

Educational institutions are required to proactively review their names.

Quốc tế.jpg
Vietnam Australia International School in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: School website.

Schools that fall within the renaming requirements must follow the procedures specified in Article 5 of the decree and complete the process before September 17, 2027.

Education management agencies at all administrative levels are responsible for compiling lists of schools subject to review, issuing written notifications and providing guidance on compliance.

Based on these notifications, schools must submit reports outlining their proposed course of action, specifying whether they intend to retain or change their names and explaining the reasons for their decisions.

Ho Chi Minh City has also clarified the authority responsible for licensing and managing educational institutions.

Under the regulations, the Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee has the authority to approve the establishment, merger, division, separation, dissolution, renaming and relocation of educational institutions under city-level jurisdiction.

These include upper secondary schools, multi-level schools whose highest level is upper secondary education, specialized schools, schools for gifted students and certain educational institutions involving foreign elements.

The Director of the Department of Education and Training is authorized to approve the establishment or operation of institutions, suspend operations, approve mergers, divisions, separations and dissolutions, issue educational operating licenses and exercise other management powers within the scope of delegated authority.

Meanwhile, chairpersons of ward, commune and special-zone People's Committees have the authority to approve the establishment, merger, division, separation, dissolution, renaming and relocation of preschools, primary schools, lower secondary schools and multi-level schools whose highest level is lower secondary education.

Le Huyen