The Vietnamese government is taking decisive action to tackle disparities in education and address urgent resource shortages. Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng has directed his Ministry of Education and Training to expedite the completion of facilities at newly opened boarding schools in remote border areas and resolve a critical nationwide shortage of textbooks.
These efforts are part of a broader strategy to improve educational access in disadvantaged regions. The government aims to complete construction at 108 multi-level boarding schools that began their academic year on September 5 and accelerate the development of 121 additional schools, with a target completion date set for August 30, 2027. This initiative is aligned with Politburo Resolution 71-NQ/TW, which seeks to minimize regional educational inequalities.
During a meeting in Hà Nội, Prime Minister Hưng emphasized the need for a thorough assessment of the effectiveness and educational quality of these newly established schools. He stressed the importance of ensuring that they are well-equipped with classrooms, teaching staff, and necessary resources. Furthermore, Hưng highlighted the significance of using enrollment data effectively to plan future educational infrastructure.
Addressing the pressing textbook shortage, the Prime Minister ordered the Ministry of Education to resolve the deficit of approximately 776,000 textbook sets by September 25. He attributed this shortfall to forecasting, ordering, publishing, and distribution inefficiencies. The ministry has been tasked with identifying those responsible for the shortage and reporting their findings by October 10.
To prevent future shortages, Hưng called for diversification in textbook production and distribution, as well as enhanced quality controls to ensure that students across Vietnam have access to the educational materials they need. These initiatives reflect a broader commitment to improving the quality and accessibility of education nationwide.