The directive is included in Resolution No. 180, issued following the government's regular June meeting and an online conference with local authorities.

Under the resolution, the ministry has been tasked with finalizing and issuing, or submitting for approval, new criteria and standards for the recognition of national-standard schools.

MOET is also expected to study and pilot new education governance models that support Vietnam's ongoing education reforms.

Preparing schools for the new academic year

A key priority is completing the reorganization of public education institutions before August 30 while guiding local authorities in reviewing and reorganizing school networks.

The government instructed the ministry to ensure schools have sufficient teachers, textbooks and minimum teaching equipment, particularly in remote, mountainous, border, island and ethnic minority areas.

Authorities are also required to develop measures to maintain safe and healthy learning environments, including preventing school violence, child abuse, drug use, e-cigarette use and online safety risks affecting students.

The ministry will coordinate with the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Finance and other agencies to guide local governments on recruiting, assigning and reallocating teachers.

The government said education reforms should prioritize increasing the number of classroom teachers while reducing unnecessary administrative and management positions.

Local governments assigned key responsibilities

Provincial and municipal governments have been instructed to ensure adequate classrooms, teachers, textbooks, teaching equipment and safe school facilities before the new school year begins.

Local authorities must inspect school buildings and promptly address any structures considered unsafe or in poor condition.

They have also been ordered to fill all approved teacher vacancies and reassign teachers where necessary to address local shortages while minimizing imbalances between schools.

The government emphasized that priority should be given to teachers directly engaged in classroom instruction.

Local governments are further responsible for implementing measures to prevent school violence, child abuse, drug use, e-cigarette use and online threats. Officials may face strict accountability if serious incidents occur within educational institutions.

Expanding school infrastructure

The resolution also directs provinces and cities to review land-use planning and investment procedures for school construction, ensuring educational facilities are developed alongside expanding urban areas, industrial parks and densely populated communities.

The government stressed that urban development should not outpace the construction of schools and classrooms.

For new boarding schools serving communes along Vietnam's land borders, local authorities must ensure construction stays on schedule while providing sufficient teachers, dormitories, clean water, kitchens, teaching equipment and operational plans after completion.

In addition, provinces and cities have been instructed to identify surplus government office buildings and administrative facilities that can be converted into schools or healthcare facilities in accordance with existing regulations, helping improve the use of public assets and reduce waste.

The government said the reforms should deliver measurable improvements in every school and locality, particularly in teacher availability, educational infrastructure, student learning conditions and overall education quality.

Tran Thuong