Trang Dai Ward to build first public high school

After years of petitions and anticipation, Trang Dai Ward residents are overjoyed that the Dong Nai City People's Committee has officially approved the investment policy for the first public high school in the ward.

Chairman of the Trang Dai Ward People's Committee Le Kim Huong said, “The ward has two large land plots already designated for educational purposes, creating favorable conditions to realize the long-standing aspiration of establishing a public high school in one of the city's most populous wards, which currently does not have one.

Urgent demand

Amid pressure on Grade 10 enrollment, especially in densely populated wards and communes, the Department of Education and Training recently requested localities to review and report their demand for the construction of public high schools in their areas. The review found that 15 wards and communes had reported a need for investment in building public high schools, including several wards with urgent demand, such as Trang Dai, Long Binh, Long Hung, and Ho Nai. These are all densely populated wards. Only two wards, Long Hung and Long Binh, currently have public high schools, but their scale remains small compared with actual local demand.

The land plot proposed by the Trang Dai Ward People's Committee is intended for the first public high school in the ward.

Dinh Thi My Dung, Chief of the Office of the Trang Dai Ward People's Committee, said Trang Dai Ward is undergoing rapid urbanization, with a high concentration of residential areas and worker housing, resulting in growing demand for educational services. The ward's population currently exceeds 145,000 and is projected to reach approximately 150,000 by 2030 and potentially 160,000 by 2040. Trang Dai Ward currently has three secondary schools, including Trang Dai, Truong Sa, and Thien Tan. Two of the schools each enroll between 3,200 and 3,600 students. On average, around 2,000 students complete the ninth-grade program each year and seek to continue to the 10th grade.

Pham Thi Hai Anh, Principal of Trang Dai Secondary School, said the school consistently enrolls about 3,200 students, with approximately 600 students completing lower secondary education annually and wishing to continue to the 10th grade. However, obtaining a place at a public high school is not straightforward. Consequently, many students have to enroll in private high schools or centers for vocational education and continuing education. According to Hai Anh, a public high school in the ward with a capacity of nearly 2,000 students would be able to accommodate all students completing the ninth-grade program at the area's secondary schools.

News that the Dong Nai City People's Committee has approved the proposed investment policy to build a public high school in Trang Dai Ward has truly brought joy to many local residents. Le Van Tiep, a resident of Quarter 3A, said with excitement, “Establishing a public high school in Trang Dai Ward has long been residents’ aspirations. Before the 16th National Assembly election, on March 6, 2026, we presented this proposal to the Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the City Party Committee, and Head of the City National Assembly Delegation Vu Hong Van, who was then Provincial Party Secretary and a candidate for the 14th National Assembly in the ward. Now that Dong Nai City has approved the investment policy for the project, residents are pleased and hope the process from policy approval to implementation will be carried out quickly.”

Turning residents' dreams into reality

The approval of the investment policy for a public high school in Trang Dai Ward reflects the efforts of the Department of Education and Training and the close coordination between the Party Committee and the People's Committee of Trang Dai Ward. Chairman Le Kim Huong said the ward currently has two land plots designated for educational purposes, most of which are vacant and free of residential structures. One proposed site covers 2.5 hectares in Quarter 5, while the other covers 3.44 hectares in Quarter 3A. The Quarter 3A site consists entirely of public land currently managed by the ward.

Regarding the preferred location, Le Kim Huong said both sites are suitable. However, the ward hopes that the Department of Education and Training, the Department of Construction, and other relevant agencies will support construction at the Quarter 3A site. The site is larger than the Quarter 5 site while consisting entirely of public land, eliminating the need for site clearance, compensation, or resettlement, thereby reducing costs and shortening the implementation period. In addition, the site is located adjacent to the former Trang Dai Ward and Thien Tan Commune, making travel more convenient for students.

Do Dang Bao Linh, Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training:

Accelerating investment, construction, and operation of Trang Dai Ward’s first public high school

Following the Dong Nai City People's Committee's approval of the investment policy, the Department of Education and Training will continue to coordinate closely with relevant departments, agencies, and local authorities to expedite project implementation. The department will also support the ward in preparing the scheme to establish the school and in developing its teaching and management workforce, to ensure the school is built and operated in accordance with national standards and meets the expectations of both parents and students.

Regarding the Quarter 5 site, leaders of Trang Dai Ward said the land plot is relatively regular in shape and has been zoned for educational use. However, it is still agricultural land managed by multiple households. Building at this location would require compensation, increasing total investment costs and prolonging the implementation period. In addition, adding a public high school with a capacity of nearly 2,000 students at the site would put considerable pressure on traffic, as there is already one university, one private multi-level school, two secondary schools, and three primary schools within a 100-meter radius. The surrounding area also has a fairly high population density.

Based on the proposal submitted by the Trang Dai Ward People's Committee, the Department of Education and Training agreed to the objective of building a public high school in the ward, with facilities that meet national standards to serve the learning needs of local children. Specifically, the Department of Education and Training proposed investing in one public high school in Trang Dai Ward during the 2026-2027 period, with a capacity of about 2,000 students and operations expected to begin in 2028. Beyond that, during the 2028-2030 period, based on development conditions and public demand, the city will continue to consider and call for investment in the development of one more high school with a capacity of about 2,000 students.

By Cong Nghia - Translated by Minh Hong, Minho