The Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) has issued guidelines with Official Letter 6165/BGDDT‐GDPT in 2025 to rearrange and reorganize preschool, general education, and continuing education institutions in accordance with the two-level local government model.
It clearly states: Only merge schools/school locations within the commune level, prioritize keeping schools with good facilities and convenient transportation; do not merge kindergartens with general schools; each commune must have at least one kindergarten, primary school, and secondary school (except in special cases).
The Minister of Education and Training also thoroughly grasped the spirit of arranging and restructuring high schools as a "high determination" to streamline the organization and apparatus.
Implementing these directives, many localities have proposed merger options. Among them, the locality has completed the work of arranging schools and assigning teachers.
Dissolving subsidized schools that do not meet standards
In Quang Ninh province, the arrangement and merger of preschool, general education and continuing education institutions across the province has been completed.
Mao Khe ward - the locality with the largest population in the province is the last unit to complete, reducing from 20 public schools to 10 schools, which means reducing 10 principal positions. Many other areas such as Cam Pha and Van Don also have a sharp decrease in the number of schools and management positions after the merger.
According to the Department of Education and Training of Quang Ninh, the whole province has reorganized 520 schools under the commune level to 255 schools, reducing 265 schools (equivalent to 51%). In the block under the Department, 15 more educational institutions will be reduced.
The merger is carefully calculated, in compliance with regulations and in accordance with the actual conditions of each locality, aiming to streamline the apparatus and improve operational efficiency.
In Thanh Hoa, the Department of Education and Training of Thanh Hoa has proposed reducing 14 public facilities in the area, including proposing to merge 2 universities into 1 school.
For preschool and general education institutions in 16 border communes, boarding schools for primary and secondary schools will be built on the basis of merging primary and secondary schools.
Merge schools and school sites within a commune-level administrative unit; prioritize the retention of schools with favorable conditions for facilities, transportation, and concentrated population; dissolve individual school sites that do not meet the minimum standards for facilities.
For 23 vocational education - continuing education centers, and 1 general education - continuing education center, the Thanh Hoa Department of Education and Training proposed to merge and convert them into 14 vocational high schools.
In Cao Bang, the People's Committee of Cao Bang province has just issued a document directing the rearrangement and reorganization of the system of preschool, general education and continuing education institutions to suit the two-level local government model.
This move is implemented based on the guidance of the Ministry of Education and Training in Official Dispatch No. 6165/BGDDT-GDPT issued on October 2.
According to the direction of the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, relevant departments, branches and localities must coordinate closely to synchronously carry out key tasks, ensuring that the reorganization process takes place effectively, without affecting teaching and learning activities.
The Department of Education and Training is assigned the role of presiding over and organizing a comprehensive review of the existing network of educational institutions in the area. On that basis, the Department will develop an arrangement plan in accordance with the socio-economic development plan and the characteristics of each locality.
At the same time, the education sector is also responsible for advising on the arrangement of personnel in the right job positions, ensuring the number of teachers and managers according to regulations, and complying with the Law on Teachers.
Many localities plan to merge many universities and colleges
Previously, the provinces and cities: Ho Chi Minh City, Thanh Hoa, Phu Tho, Ha Tinh and Ca Mau proposed to merge dozens of universities, colleges and many secondary schools, in order to streamline the network of educational institutions according to the Government's orientation.
In Ho Chi Minh City, it is expected that about 30 colleges and secondary schools will be rearranged; establish 2 schools, Saigontourist College of Tourism - Hotel and Ho Chi Minh City College of Agriculture and High Technology.
At the university level, Ho Chi Minh City proposed to keep Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine and Thu Dau Mot University. Saigon University will be reorganized on the basis of merging with Ba Ria - Vung Tau Pedagogical College under the name Saigon University.
The Department of Education and Training of Thanh Hoa province proposed to merge Thanh Hoa University of Culture - Sports - Tourism into Hong Duc University to reduce the number of higher education institutions.
4 other schools proposed to be merged are Thanh Hoa Industrial College, Nghi Son Vocational College, Bim Son Vocational College and Thanh Hoa Technology.
In Ha Tinh, the province proposed to continue researching the merger of Ha Tinh University into a member university of Hanoi National University or under the new direction of the Ministry of Education and Training.
In the field of vocational education, the province proposed to keep 8 Vocational Education - Continuing Education Centers and 5 vocational schools.
The People's Committee of Ca Mau province plans to merge Ca Mau Medical College and Bac Lieu Medical College into Ca Mau Medical College.
Merge Vietnam - Korea Ca Mau Vocational College and Bac Lieu Vocational College into Vietnam - Korea Ca Mau Vocational College.
Merge Ca Mau Community College and Bac Lieu College of Economics and Technology into Ca Mau College.
Other localities are still in the process of developing arrangement plans.
According to information from the Ministry of Education and Training, in November 2025, the Ministry will have a specific plan on the arrangement of colleges and vocational schools and will soon collect opinions from vocational training institutions for orientation.
