The rate of solidity is still modest
On October 24, 2024, the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) held a conference to summarize the socialization of school and classroom consolidation and teacher housing for the period 2013-2023, tasks and solutions in the coming time. The conference was held in a combination of in-person and online formats at 63 provinces and cities.
Data presented at the Conference showed that by the end of 2023, the country had nearly 628,571 public preschool and general education classrooms. Of these, 545,375 classrooms were solid, reaching a solidification rate of 86.6% (preschool level had a solidification rate of 83.0%; primary level 83.2%; middle school level 94.9%; high school level 97.0%).
However, at this conference, no information was provided on the current status of school consolidation in ethnic minority and mountainous areas. Currently, the current status of the school network in this area can only be assessed through reports from localities.
According to the report of the Ministry of Education and Training, in 2013, the whole country had 553,181 classrooms; the number of solid classrooms was about 364,367, reaching a rate of 65.9%. Of which, the solidification rate of preschool level was 47.7%; primary level was 61.6%; secondary level was 80.5%; high school level was 90.4%.
For example, in Cao Bang, data presented at the 4th Provincial Congress of Ethnic Minorities held on November 4, 2024 showed that the rate of solidified classrooms in the province reached over 90%; the goal is to maintain this rate until 2029.
In Ha Giang, the whole province has only 66.04% of classrooms meeting the solidity rate; 31.49% are semi-permanent classrooms and 2.46% are temporary classrooms. Tuyen Quang province has only 66.4% of solid classrooms; 27% are semi-permanent classrooms; 6.6% are borrowed and temporary classrooms. In Bac Kan province, the solidity rate is 71.1%;…
Five years ago, information from the 2019 socio-economic survey of 53 ethnic minorities showed that the provinces with the lowest rate of solid schools in the country were Hau Giang (67.5%), Bac Kan (69.9%), Tuyen Quang (77.4%); the lowest rate of solid schools was recorded in Tuyen Quang (14.5%), Long An (17.6%) and Ha Giang (22.9%)...
The 2019 school situation survey also showed that in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, the rate of solid schools reached 91.3%. Through data analysis, the reality is that the rate of solid schools and school locations increases gradually according to the levels of education from preschool to high school.
According to the survey results, preschool is the level with the lowest rate of main schools and solid school sites among all levels of education (87.6% of main schools and 53.5% of school sites). While this is the first level of the national education system, laying the foundation for the physical, emotional, social and aesthetic development of children.
At the primary level, the rate of solidification of main schools reached 91.2%, and that of school sites reached 53.7%; at the secondary level, the rate of solidification of main schools was 96.8%, and that of school sites reached 84.2%; at the high school level, the rate was 99.7% at main schools and 96.9% at school sites.
Mobilize all resources
The Ministry of Education and Training aims to have 100% of classrooms nationwide solidified by 2030; at the same time, it will invest in building enough public rooms for teachers according to demand (about 10,794 public rooms for teachers).
In particular, implementing the National Target Program on Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minority Mountainous Areas for the 2021-2030 period (National Target Program 1719), the Education sector strives to complete the target of 100% of schools and classrooms in extremely disadvantaged communes and villages being solidly built.
In the period 2013 - 2023, the whole country mobilized about 32,897 billion VND to invest in consolidating 35,984 classrooms and 1,216 public rooms for teachers.
To achieve these goals, the state budget continues to play a leading role in investing in and consolidating the school network.
This is the result of analysis in the research work of Dr. Le Thi Mai Hoa, Department of Education, Central Propaganda Department after 10 years (2012 - 2023) of implementing Resolution No. 29-NQ/TW dated January 4, 2013 of the 9th Central Executive Committee on fundamental and comprehensive innovation of education and training.
According to Dr. Le Thi Mai Hoa, in the period 2013 - 2023, the budget expenditure for education will be higher each year than the previous year. On average, in the period 2013 - 2022, the proportion of education expenditure in the total annual state budget expenditure is 17.37%.
Those resources basically ensure the good implementation of the tasks of building schools and classrooms, improving conditions of facilities and teaching equipment, developing training programs and professions of ministries, branches, localities, educational and training institutions, initially meeting the requirements of educational and training innovation.
“However, the state budget for education has not yet ensured at least 20% of the total state budget expenditure to ensure the implementation of policies on tuition fees, teachers' salaries and investment in education and training development; while the number of educational and training facilities is large and spread across the country, especially at the preschool and general education levels, requiring a very large investment budget,” said Dr. Le Thi Mai Hoa.
At the online conference to summarize the socialization of school and classroom consolidation and teachers' housing for the 2013-2023 period, held by the Ministry of Education and Training on October 25, 2024, Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long affirmed that the Party and State always pay attention to building and consolidating the school infrastructure system, especially in disadvantaged, remote and isolated areas.
However, many remote, border and island areas still lack facilities, and the learning and working conditions of students and teachers are not fully guaranteed. Some localities still have rented classrooms, borrowed classrooms, etc.; many educational institutions lack functional rooms and minimal teaching equipment, failing to meet the requirements of educational and training innovation.
Therefore, in addition to resources from the state budget, the Deputy Prime Minister suggested that it is necessary to continue to join hands and mobilize more social resources to complete the goal of solidifying the entire system of schools and public housing for teachers in the coming time.
In recent years, in addition to the budget, localities in ethnic minority and mountainous areas have mobilized resources from the community to invest in and consolidate the school network, thereby increasing the rate of solidified schools.
For example, in Yen Bai, in the 2013-2023 period, the province mobilized 223.78 billion VND from socialized resources to help increase 455 classrooms and 36 public rooms for teachers of 79 solidly built schools.
In 2013, the whole province had 6,069 classrooms at all levels, of which 4,115 were solid (reaching a rate of 68%). By 2023, the whole province had 6,871 classrooms, of which 6,026 were solid (reaching a rate of 87.7%).
In Dien Bien, in ten years (2013 - 2023), the province has mobilized 585.8 billion VND from socialization to build 826 classrooms and 192 public rooms for teachers with a total amount of money. By the end of 2023, the whole province has 7,333 classrooms, of which 5,493 are solid classrooms, accounting for 74.91% (an increase of 20.6% compared to 2013).
Data on the current situation of schools in ethnic minority and mountainous areas were collected in the fourth socio-economic survey of 53 ethnic minorities held from July 1 to August 15, 2024; expected to be published in July 2025. This is an important reference data set for ministries, branches and localities to continue researching and proposing preferential policies to encourage stronger community participation in the socialization of education, focusing on consolidating schools in ethnic minority and mountainous areas.
According to the report of the Ministry of Education and Training, the average rate of solidification nationwide is 86%, with preschool and primary schools reaching 83%. This rate is very high compared to 10 years ago, but the number of unsolidified classrooms is mainly concentrated in mountainous provinces, ethnic minority areas and disadvantaged areas (such as the Northwest, Central Highlands, Central region and Southwest), the rate of unsolidified classrooms in preschool and primary schools in many provinces is still over 40% (Dak Nong, Kon Tum, Dien Bien, Cao Bang, Lai Chau...).
Identifying the socio-economic situation according to the commune survey: Creating impetus for development of disadvantaged areas (Part 8)
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