HCMC plans to reduce 704 public schools, impacting about 465 principals | Thanh Niên (VN) | 2026-08-12 00:00:00 UTC | vi

Ho Chi Minh City is set to significantly restructure its public education system, with plans to reduce 704 out of its 2,188 public educational institutions. This move is expected to affect around 465 principals, 930 vice-principals, and 2,096 staff members.

“

According to the plan for arranging public educational institutions, the city will reduce 704 out of a total of 2,188 public educational institutions.

The decision was discussed during a meeting chaired by Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, Nguyen Van Duoc, on August 12. Nguyen Tan Phat, Director of the Department of Education and Training, presented the plan for arranging public educational institutions, which has been approved by the city's People's Committee and is awaiting feedback from the Standing Committee of the Municipal Party Committee.

Phat explained that the restructuring is based on regulations from the central government and the Ministry of Education and Training. The approach for arranging institutions in 168 communes and wards is cautious and thorough, considering the previous structures of the 38 districts. The Department of Education and Training has analyzed the school system and worked with individual communes and wards to ensure appropriate arrangements.

“

After the arrangement, about 465 principals, 930 vice-principals, and 2,096 staff members in their positions will be affected.

The reduction represents over 30% of the city's public educational institutions, making Ho Chi Minh City the fifth-largest province or city in terms of the scale of reduction. The department is prioritizing the stabilization of the workforce, noting that the city currently faces a shortage of approximately 1,000 positions. Personnel will be reassigned as needed following the restructuring.

“

The principle of handling this is to stabilize the team. Currently, the whole city is short of about 1,000 positions. After the arrangement, personnel will be reassigned appropriately.

The Department of Education and Training has temporarily suspended recruitment plans to facilitate the reorganization. They have also requested the Department of Home Affairs to guide policies and provide additional personnel quotas for the education sector. Recommendations include empowering the Director of the Department of Education and Training and commune/ward chairpersons to make decisions regarding civil servants within their jurisdiction. Additionally, the department seeks to ensure operational continuity post-merger, including the provision of seals, bank accounts, and digital signatures, and timely salary payments.

“

The Department of Education and Training is temporarily suspending the issuance of recruitment plans to implement the arrangement. When the Standing Committee of the Municipal Party Committee approves, the education sector will reorganize the team appropriately and balance it.