Vietnamese Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng has tasked the Ministry of Education and Training with addressing critical educational challenges, including the completion of newly opened boarding schools in remote border areas and resolving a significant shortage of textbooks nationwide. During a meeting held in Hà Nội on Monday, Hưng emphasized the urgency of these issues, highlighting their importance for improving educational access and quality in disadvantaged regions.
The Prime Minister called for the swift completion of facilities at 108 multi-level boarding schools that began operations on September 5 for the new academic year. Additionally, he set a target for the construction of another 121 schools to be completed by August 30, 2027. These efforts are part of the broader initiatives under Politburo Resolution 71-NQ/TW, which aims to reduce regional disparities in education by establishing a total of 248 boarding schools in border communes.
Hưng also instructed relevant authorities to evaluate the effectiveness and educational quality of these new institutions, ensuring they are adequately equipped with classrooms, teachers, and necessary resources. He stressed the importance of using enrollment data effectively to plan future educational facilities strategically.
In addressing the textbook shortage, Hưng ordered the ministry to resolve the issue of approximately 776,000 missing textbook sets by September 25. He pointed out that the shortage stemmed from deficiencies in demand forecasting, ordering, publishing, and distribution processes. The ministry was given a deadline of October 10 to identify those responsible for the shortfall and to report on the findings of their review.
Furthermore, Hưng advocated for greater diversification in the production and distribution of textbooks, coupled with improved quality controls, to ensure that students nationwide receive the necessary educational materials. This directive aims to prevent similar shortages in the future and enhance the overall quality of educational resources available to Vietnamese students.