From the school directed by General Secretary To Lam
Si Pa Phin Primary and Secondary Boarding School, Dien Bien province is the first project to be implemented according to the new policy of the Politburo on investing in the construction of 248 boarding schools for primary and secondary schools in the border communes of the mainland.
The Si Pa Phin Primary and Secondary Boarding School, Dien Bien province, started construction on July 27, 2025. Speaking at this important opening event, General Secretary To Lam emphasized: "This is a project of the people's heart, for the future of our children, we must be extremely urgent, not delayed".
After more than 3 months, since the first project was implemented, according to the reporter of Lao Dong Newspaper, the leveling work has been completed about 97%; the overall construction progress has reached more than 50%; the blocks of departments B1, B2, and the headquarters have reached nearly 90%. The entire construction site is bustling with the sound of vehicles and machinery echoing in the mountains and forests day and night.
Mr. Mach Ngoc Duc - Construction Commander - said: We set the requirements of progress and quality as the highest priority, so as soon as we started construction, the company mobilized maximum machinery, engineers, and workers to work continuously in 3 shifts and 4 teams regardless of weather conditions. At the peak, there were nearly a hundred machines and vehicles running continuously at the construction site. Up to now, the items that have entered the construction phase and are completed need more human resources, so the company has arranged more than 450 engineers and workers in 3 shifts, 4 teams working 24/7.
Mr. Le Hong Thang - Acting Director of the Project Management and Land Fund Development Board of Region 5 - said: "The project will try to be completed with the goal of having a plaque to welcome the 14th National Party Congress in mid-January 2026 and completing and putting it into use from the beginning of the second semester of this school year, the investor and contractor always accompany the construction site to direct, supervise and urge the construction progress to each group, each team, each item".
Spreading the competitive atmosphere across the border
After Si Pa Phin, a series of other localities are also bustlingly preparing for November 9 - the moment the whole country simultaneously started construction of inter-level boarding schools in the border communes of the mainland.
In Dien Bien, in November alone, 9 new schools will simultaneously start construction in Nu Ngam, Na Bung, Sam Mon and other communes. The sound of excavators and the laughter of the people mixed in the smoke of the afternoon kitchen create a picture of both the bustling and warmth of the changing border area.
In Lai Chau province, according to the plan in 2025, 5/10 inter-level boarding schools in border communes will be built. Up to now, there are 3 projects being implemented, it is expected that by November 9, 2 more projects will continue to be started.
Mr. Le Minh Ngan - Secretary of Lai Chau Provincial Party Committee - said that the province will study and apply specific policies and mechanisms, mobilize all resources to support construction units and ensure progress.
"Although there are still many difficulties, with the consensus and high determination of the entire political system, the projects will be completed on schedule and become bright spots for the local education sector" - Mr. Ngan said.
In early November, the atmosphere in the border communes of Lao Cai province was also always bustling. Everyone is excited by the news that the locality is about to have a new, more modern and spacious ethnic boarding school.
Ms. Ly Thi Sanh - Choan Then village (Y Ty commune) - shared: "For a long time, people have wanted to have a new school so that their children could study and live well. The winter here is very cold, children in boarding school also have a hard time, lacking everything due to limited economic conditions. Now that we heard that a new construction site was about to start, everyone was as happy as Tet".
Not only in Y Ty, in Muong Khuong - one of the border communes with a large number of ethnic minority students, joy also spread throughout the villages. Mr. Giang Seo Pao, Muong Khuong commune, excitedly said: "The state has invested in building a new school, our people are very grateful. With the words, children will suffer less than their parents.
Talking to Lao Dong Newspaper, Mr. Vu Lan - Director of Lao Cai Provincial Construction Investment Project Management Board - the investor of the projects said that 4 boarding schools in the province will start construction on November 9. Currently, the unit is urgently completing preparations for the groundbreaking ceremony to take place smoothly.
"These are key projects that the province is particularly interested in. We are committed to implementing the project in accordance with regulations, ensuring the quality of the project, so that students in the highlands can soon have a new, solid and safe school" - Mr. Vu Lan added.
In Ha Tinh - where there are 7 border communes, the Provincial People's Committee said that 2 projects will start construction in 2025 with a total cost of nearly 300 billion VND, including Son Kim 1 Primary - Secondary Boarding School and Huong Khe Primary - Secondary Boarding School.
The remaining 5 projects are expected to be implemented in 2026 with a total investment of more than 440 billion VND. The completed projects will contribute to meeting the learning needs of students in border areas, while improving living and teaching conditions for teachers.
In Cao Bang, localities in the area are completing preparations to start construction of 11 schools in the communes of Phuc Hoa, Tra Linh, Truong Ha, Lung Nam, Quang Han, Tong Cot, Dinh Phong, Dam Thuy, Quang Trung, Ha Lang and Duc Long. The simultaneous implementation of these projects contributes to standardizing the network of schools in the northern border area, creating better learning conditions for ethnic minority children, while promoting socio-economic development associated with strengthening national defense and security in the border area.
When 248 inter-level boarding schools are completed, tens of thousands of students in border areas will be studying in solid classrooms with dormitories, sports areas, and libraries. Each school is a "soft fortress" - where the border is guarded by knowledge and humanity.
This is a strategic step that demonstrates the long-term vision of the Party and State in human development - the center of all policies. When children in border areas are fully educated, the border will be truly solid.
Helping ethnic minority children access an equal and safe learning environment
On November 6, Mr. Thai Van Thanh - Director of Nghe An Department of Education and Training - said that investing in inter-level boarding schools in border areas not only solves the shortage of schools, but also contributes to retaining students, limiting moderate drop out of school, especially for ethnic minority students. This is a breakthrough in improving the quality of education in mountainous areas, helping ethnic minority children access an equal and safe learning environment - Mr. Thai Van Thanh emphasized.
Information from Nghe An Provincial People's Committee said that Nghe An will simultaneously start construction of 9 inter-level boarding schools in border communes, with a total investment of more than 681 billion VND from the central budget.
It is expected that on November 9, along with border localities across the country, Nghe An will start construction of 9 schools in the communes of Nhon Mai, Keng Du, Bac Ly, Mon Son, Que Phong, Tam Thai, Anh Son, Hanh Lam and Tri Le. Each school has a scale of about 30 classes, serving about 1,000 students, on an area of 5 to 10 hectares. Nghe An Provincial People's Committee has directed departments and branches to clearly identify locations, areas, and ground to ensure construction in accordance with regulations. The Provincial People's Committee is also assigned to review the origin of land, planning, investment procedures and select appropriate contractors; mobilize local human resources to coordinate with construction units to ensure progress. The goal is to complete the first 10 schools before August 30, 2026. QuANG HERE
Carefully prepare for the groundbreaking ceremony of 3 schools in the border area of An Giang
According to the People's Committee of An Giang province, the groundbreaking ceremony for investment projects to build schools in the border communes of Vinh Gia, Giang Thanh, Khanh Binh will be held simultaneously on the morning of November 9. The total estimated capital to implement the 3 projects is about more than 388 billion VND.
Location at Vinh Gia Primary - Secondary Boarding School; Giang Thanh Primary - Secondary Boarding School; Khanh An Primary and Secondary Boarding School.
Vice Chairwoman of An Giang Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thi Minh Thuy said that the investment policy in building schools in border communes shows the concern of the Party, State and local government for the education cause in border areas. Thereby creating a vibrant competitive atmosphere in the whole province, encouraging all levels, sectors, people and armed forces to join hands to successfully implement the socio-economic development policy, strengthening national defense and security in border areas. ANH WORK
