Before the information that all administrative units at the commune level will be completed before June 30, 2025, many parents are concerned that enrollment in preschool, primary and secondary schools in the coming school year may change according to the boundaries.

Merging many wards into 1 ward, worrying about children going to school far from home

Sharing with VietNamNet reporter, Ms. Nguyen Ha Nhi (Ha Dong district, Hanoi) whose child is about to enter first grade expressed: “My house is in Nguyen Trai ward and very close to Nguyen Trai Primary School. I wish for my child to study at this school in the right direction and also convenient for pick-up and drop-off. However, with the information about merging communes and wards, many wards can be merged into one large ward, I am wondering where my child will study, will he have to study far from home?”

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Parents hope that the merger of commune-level administrative units will not cause disruption in enrollment. Illustration photo: Phuong Canh Primary School

Sharing the same sentiment, Ms. Nguyen Thuy Lieu, Phuong Canh Ward (Nam Tu Liem District, Hanoi) is also worried when her child enters preschool next school year. "Currently, my ward has Phuong Canh Primary School with 2 campuses, which is very convenient for pick-up and drop-off. I hope that the rearrangement of the ward-commune unit will not cause disruption in the primary school enrollment, so that my child can still study near home," the mother shared.

Admission to primary level is based on the route, not on administrative boundaries.

A kindergarten principal in Nam Tu Liem district said: Basically, enrollment does not change much when wards and communes are merged because the district/county education sector enrolls students by region, that is, based on the number of students to assign quotas to schools and even if there is a cut in the route, it is based on students going to school near their home, so parents do not worry about disruption.

"I just wonder if the merger of wards will lead to the merger of schools. If schools are merged, it may directly affect the implementation of the criteria for building schools that meet national standards. There are schools that have met national standards, but after the merger, some criteria do not meet the conditions...", this person expressed.

Regarding the above issue, speaking with VietNamNet , Ms. Pham Thi Le Hang - Head of the Department of Education and Training of Ha Dong District (Hanoi) said that even when merging many wards into one large ward, the enrollment of students at the beginning of the school year for preschool, primary school, and secondary school will not be difficult or disruptive, so parents can rest assured.

Ms. Hang said that for many years now, not only Ha Dong but also many other districts in Hanoi, the enrollment of students at the primary level is very detailed down to each house number and residential group, not based on administrative boundaries. Students residing in a ward do not have to study at the school in that ward.

"For example, students in Nguyen Trai ward can study at Nguyen Trai Primary School or Le Loi Primary School. We base on whether the educational institution meets the enrollment target or not to cut the route and assign the target accordingly. For example, Nguyen Trai ward has 500 students entering grade 1 but Nguyen Trai Primary School only meets 400 students, so the route will be cut to another ward. This is very normal and has been implemented for many years. Therefore, even when wards are merged, the enrollment at the beginning of the school year will remain the same, following the motto of creating the most favorable conditions for students and parents do not have to worry about their children studying nearby becoming far from home," Ms. Hang affirmed.

Regarding the enrollment of the first level of the 2025-2026 school year, a representative of the Hanoi Department of Education and Training said that it has requested units to ensure transparency with 5 clear points: Clear enrollment route; clear enrollment quota; clear enrollment time; clear enrollment method and clear responsibility in enrollment work.

In addition, kindergartens, primary schools and secondary schools have the responsibility to coordinate with the People's Committees of wards, communes and towns to organize surveys of the number of children of each school age in the area, ensuring accurate data to serve the enrollment zoning.

"Based on the above investigation results and the actual situation of facilities and staff, teachers, schools proactively develop a draft plan for enrollment for the 2025-2026 school year to report to superiors for approval. The enrollment zoning and enrollment quota assignment must be consistent with the facilities and staff of each school; the quota (number of classes, number of students/class, number of classes with 2 sessions/day) must be consistent with the number of classrooms of the school, in which priority is given to learning support rooms and classrooms with 2 sessions/day...", said a representative of the Hanoi Department of Education and Training.