Dong Nai creates educational breakthroughs in 8 border communes

Dong Nai province has urgently embarked on implementing Conclusion Notice No. 81-TB/TW of the Politburo, dated July 18, 2025, on the policy of investing in school construction for border communes (Conclusion Notice No. 81). Notably, the Project on Investment and Comprehensive Development of Teaching and Learning Quality in 8 border communes of Dong Nai province until 2030, with a vision to 2045, has been completed.

Loc Thanh Primary and Secondary School, Loc Thanh border commune, Dong Nai province, is invested in and built spaciously and recognized as meeting national standards level 1 in 2024. Photo: Vu Thuyen

Provincial Party Committee member, Director of the Department of Education and Training (DOET) Truong Thi Kim Hue said: "Investing in school construction in 8 border communes of the province is a very important political task. According to the implementation roadmap for the 2025-2027 period, the province is expected to allocate over 1,194 billion VND to invest in schools in 8 border communes in a synchronous and modern direction, with a focus on training and fostering teachers, applying information technology, and digital transformation."

Expectations for border education

Loc Thinh Primary and Secondary School in Loc Thanh border commune is the first school to receive over 35 billion VND from the province for the renovation and upgrading of the school in the spirit of Conclusion Notice No. 81. It is expected that by the beginning of the second semester, the main campus of the school will have an additional block of 17 classrooms, a block of 3 functional rooms, a block of 4 auxiliary rooms, an office block for the principal and a multi-purpose hall, along with other auxiliary facilities. The school's satellite campus will also have an additional classroom, a teacher's room, a parking lot, and auxiliary facilities.

Hoang Phuc Quang, Principal of Loc Thinh Primary and Secondary School, happily shared: Teachers, students, and parents are very excited because the province quickly allocated capital to synchronously invest in facilities for teaching and learning at both the main and satellite campuses. When the project is completed and put into operation, it will put an end to the shortage and deterioration of classrooms and functional rooms, and for many school years, the school has had to combine classes to ensure enough classrooms. The school hopes that in the 2025-2027 period, it will continue to receive investment from the province for boarding facilities, modern and synchronous information technology, helping the school quickly achieve national standard school status.

Ho Quang Khanh, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Committee of Loc Thanh commune, shared: After the rearrangement and establishment of the new Loc Thanh commune from July 1, 2025, 4 out of 5 schools in the commune met national standards at level 1, only Loc Thinh Primary and Secondary School had not yet met the standards. Therefore, when Conclusion Notice No. 81 was issued, the commune was very happy.

Sharing the same joy as Loc Thinh Primary and Secondary School, in 2025, 8 more schools in 5 border communes, namely Loc Thanh, Loc Tan, Tan Tien, Thien Hung, and Dak O, have also been officially allocated funds by the Provincial People's Committee to renovate and upgrade schools. The Party committees and authorities of the above communes are directing the economic - infrastructure department of the commune to closely coordinate with schools to urgently start construction and strive to complete it in 2025. The Regional Project Management Board under the Provincial Investment and Construction Project Management Board is ready to support the communes in renovating and upgrading schools to ensure timely completion and quality. For the remaining 3 border communes, namely Bu Gia Map, Loc Thanh, and Hung Phuoc, the province is reviewing and appraising to continue allocating capital for the communes to urgently start investing in school construction according to the plan.

Narrowing the education gap

According to the leaders of the DOET, to quickly develop education for the 8 border communes of the province, it is necessary to invest synchronously in both facilities and human resources, and to issue many outstanding policies. The Department has advised the Provincial People's Committee to submit to the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee for promulgation the Project on Investment and Comprehensive Development of Teaching and Learning Quality in 8 border communes of Dong Nai province until 2030, with a vision to 2045. This is considered a comprehensive and outstanding master project to develop education for border communes, thereby narrowing the educational gap between border areas and more developed areas.

Many schools in border communes are still facing great difficulties and shortages, so the province will prioritize resources to invest synchronously in both school facilities and teaching staff, making maximum use of the preferential policies of the Party and State for students in border communes. In particular, information technology and digital transformation will be thoroughly applied as a solution to narrow the development gap between border communes and more favorable areas. During the process of investing in building schools in border communes, it is essential to clearly define the specific capital source, commencement and completion timelines, and especially, quality must be ensured to avoid waste.

Comrade LE TRUONG SON, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee

To implement this project, in the coming time, the entire political system from the provincial to communal and ward levels and educational institutions must leverage the spirit of Conclusion Notice No. 81 as a breakthrough driving force. The steps of investing in education in border areas must be implemented systematically and decisively, and at the same time, be practical to avoid wasting investment resources. The implementation process needs to be regularly inspected and supervised to ensure efficiency and compliance with legal regulations.

Tran Ngoc Thang, Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training, said: After receiving directives from the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee on implementing Conclusion Notice No. 81, the department held many meetings with the People's Committees of 8 border communes; at the same time, it established a delegation to directly survey the needs for school construction investment in these communes. According to the department's survey, the total number of educational institutions in the 8 border communes currently has 69 schools, including 53 public educational institutions. Based on the proposals of the 8 border communes, in the 2025-2027 period, the estimated cost for school construction investment for the 8 border communes is over 1,194 billion VND.

According to calculations by the Department of Finance, the capital for school construction investment for the 8 border communes in the 2025-2027 period is expected to come from various sources, including support from the central budget, sponsorships, aid, and other legal capital sources as regulated.

In 2025 alone, the implementation cost will be nearly 100 billion VND, mainly for renovation, repair, and upgrading. Especially, in 2026, the estimated investment amount will be very large, up to 700 billion VND; and in 2027, it will be 394 billion VND. To facilitate investment, schools with an estimated capital need of less than 20 billion VND will be financed through recurrent expenditure, while those requiring an estimated capital of 20 billion VND or more will be funded through public investment capital.

From 2026, the province will implement the construction of semi-boarding facilities for schools; as well as install information technology infrastructure and organize professional training on information technology application for school teachers. The province strives to complete the construction, acceptance, and put semi-boarding schools into use by 2027; and at the same time, finalize management regulations and welfare policy for managers, teachers, staff, children, and students in border communes. In addition, the province has oriented the development of border communes for the 2028-2029 school year and subsequent years, aiming for continued, modern, and synchronous development.

 By Cong Nghia-Translated by Mai Nga,  Thu Ha