Dong Nai accelerates efforts to develop national-standard schools following restructuring

Le Truong Son, Vice Chairman of the City People’s Committee, chaired a meeting on October 9 to hear a report from the Department of Education and Training (DoET) on the areas and travel distances used to determine eligibility for support for pupils and other learners unable to travel to school and return home on the same day. The meeting also reviewed progress in developing national-standard schools and discussed measures to accelerate implementation across the city.

Le Truong Son, Vice Chairman of the Dong Nai City People’s Committee, chairs the meeting. Photo: Cong Nghia

The policy on identifying areas and setting travel-distance criteria is being implemented in accordance with the Government’s Decree No. 66/2025/ND-CP. Following a review, the DoET proposed that commune- and ward-level authorities further review and adjust the list of areas where difficult terrain and transport conditions make daily travel to and from school challenging. The department also proposed revising the annex, finalizing the draft decision and submitting it to the City People’s Committee for consideration.

Dong Nai is facing mounting pressure to maintain and improve its rate of national-standard schools during the 2026–2030 period following a restructuring of its school network. As of August 15, 2026, before the restructuring, 784 of the city’s 1,100 public schools had met national standards, representing 71.27%. Following the reorganization, 669 schools remained in the reporting system, of which 424 met the standards. As a result, the rate fell to 63.38%, down 7.89 percentage points.

The decline was mainly attributable to the merger of 93 schools that had met national standards with schools that had not, resulting in the establishment of new institutions. Under Circular No. 57/2026/TT-BGDDT, the newly established schools are not automatically recognized as meeting national standards. Meanwhile, schools formed through the merger of previously accredited institutions may retain their recognition status for no more than 24 months. This places considerable pressure on the city to maintain its rate of national-standard schools in the coming years.

The City People’s Committee has approved a VND1.2 trillion investment scheme to modernize school facilities in eight border communes. Loc Thanh Primary and Secondary School in Loc Thanh Commune is pictured. Photo: Cong Nghia

At the meeting, the DoET representatives highlighted several obstacles facing schools slated for consideration for national-standard recognition in 2026 and 2027. These include problems related to land availability, school facilities, subject-specific classrooms, fire prevention and firefighting requirements, and staffing for school management positions.

To ensure timely progress toward the targets, the DoET proposed that the City People’s Committee continue directing relevant departments, boards and agencies, along with commune- and ward-level People’s Committees, to coordinate closely in addressing the specific difficulties facing each school. In particular, it called for the decisive implementation of breakthrough measures to invest in building schools that meet required standards, in line with previous instructions from the Chairman of the Dong Nai People’s Committee.

In his concluding remarks, Vice Chairman Le Truong Son asked the DoET to work closely with the Department of Ethnic and Religious Affairs and other relevant agencies to review and accurately identify the areas and groups eligible for support under Decree No. 66/2025/ND-CP. He also called for working meetings with local authorities in communes where eligible beneficiaries reside to agree on the designated areas, target groups and implementation arrangements.

The DoET will work with relevant agencies to finalize the draft decision, ensuring that it has a sound legal basis and complies with all required procedures before submitting it to the City People’s Committee for consideration and approval. This is intended to ensure that students and other eligible learners receive the support to which they are entitled.

Regarding progress in developing national-standard schools, the vice chairman asked the DoET to finalize its report, clearly identifying the causes of the difficulties and the responsibilities of local authorities. The report should specify how many schools are expected to meet national standards in the remaining months of 2026 and in 2027, as well as set out targets and an implementation timeline for subsequent years. The DoET was also asked to assess schools’ needs for land, facilities and teaching equipment, and propose ways to mobilize additional funding, particularly through contributions from businesses.

The Vice Chairman also stressed that efforts to develop national-standard schools must be closely aligned with the project to improve the overall quality of teaching and learning in eight border communes by 2030, with a vision extending to 2045.

By C.Nghia – Translated by M.Nguyet, Minho