VietNamNet Bridge - While many general schools in inner Hanoi have become overloaded because of a population increase, dozens of land plots reserved for schools cannot be used.

More multistory-buildings have been arisen

According to Tran Huy Hoang, chair of Hoang Liet Ward People’s Committee, there were 32,627 household members by December 31, 2015. The number soared to 51,666 by late March 2016.

The sharp increase of 16,000 household members in the locality just within three months was explained by the fact that a series of new residential quarters were put into use in September 2015.

A representative of Vinh Tuy Ward in Hoang Mai district said if counting the multi-storey buildings to be put into operation, the ward would have 80,000 household members, which is four times higher than the population of a medium size ward in Hanoi.

Of the inner districts of Hanoi, Cau Giay and Thanh Xuan are witnessing very rapid increase in population. In Cau Giay, according to Pham Ngoc Anh, head of the local education sub-department, the population increased by 10 percent per annum.

“Transport and education suffer the most pressure from the population increase,” said Tran Huy Hoang, chair of Hoang Liet Ward.

While many general schools in inner Hanoi have become overloaded because of a population increase, dozens of land plots reserved for schools cannot be used.

A representative of the Cau Giay district authorities said that in 1999, when the district was established, there were 80,000 people, but the figure has soared to 260,000. It is expected that in five to 10 years, with the development of multi-storey buildings, the figure would be 400,000. 

According to the Hanoi Urban Planning and Development Society every increase of 1,000 people in population will lead to changes in demand for schools, because there will be at least 50 children for every 1,000 people.

Meanwhile, the building of technical and social infrastructure items, including schools, has been proceeding more slowly. 

This explains why in many districts in the inner city, such as Ba Dinh and Hoan Kiem, there are 50-55 students in every class, though the Ministry of Education and Training stipulates that a standard class must have no more than 35 students.

While the schools in Hanoi are overloaded, many large land plots have been left idle.

In Nam Trung Yen new urban area, for example, two land plots reserved for schools, B9 and C4, remain empty. For the time being, they are used for temporary purposes such as parking lots, football playing fields and service shops.

According to the Cau Giay district People’s Committee, schools have not been built on 23 land plots reserved for schools.

“The demand for schools has been increasing too rapidly, while the construction of schools has been going too slowly,” said an official of the Cau Giay district authorities.

Tien Phong