Preparing a 'major project' to restructure higher education, temporarily suspending the arrangement of affiliated schools

The Ministry of Education and Training said it cannot yet implement the arrangement of universities and vocational training institutions under the ministry because it is integrating two large projects into one overall project.

Deputy Minister of Education and Training Pham Ngoc Thuong said he has just sent an official dispatch to the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding the arrangement of public service units in the education sector - Photo: TRAN HUYNH

On the afternoon of October 15, speaking with Tuoi Tre , Mr. Pham Ngoc Thuong - Deputy Minister of Education and Training - said that he had sent an official dispatch to the Ministry of Home Affairs, stating his views and specific proposals related to the arrangement of public service units in the education sector according to the direction of the Central Steering Committee and related resolutions.

Proposal to consolidate and streamline the university education system

Previously (October 8), the Ministry of Home Affairs had a meeting with the Ministry of Education and Training on the implementation of the arrangement of public service units, state-owned enterprises and focal points within agencies and organizations in the political system according to the direction of the Central Steering Committee on summarizing Resolution 18.

According to the Ministry of Education and Training, implementing Resolution 71 of the Politburo, this unit was assigned to develop a project to rearrange and reorganize the system of higher education institutions, and at the same time develop a project to transfer a number of higher education institutions to local management, expected to be submitted to the Prime Minister in 2026.

In addition, according to Resolution 03 of the Government, the Ministry of Education and Training was also assigned to preside over the development of a project to transfer multi-disciplinary and multi-field universities to the management of this ministry.

Based on the content of the meeting on September 25 chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long with relevant ministries and branches, the Ministry of Education and Training is drafting a plan to organize the implementation of tasks to report to the Government and Prime Minister for consideration and decision.

Specifically, the Ministry of Education and Training plans to propose merging the content of the project to transfer multi-disciplinary and multi-field higher education institutions under the management of this ministry into the project to rearrange and reorganize the system of higher education institutions.

This merger aims to ensure comprehensiveness and unity in the process of streamlining the university education system nationwide, thereby forming a unified project to be submitted to the Prime Minister for consideration.

Therefore, the arrangement of higher education and vocational education institutions under the Ministry of Education and Training cannot be implemented at present.

Difficulty in proposing vocational high school model

Regarding vocational education and continuing education, the Ministry of Education and Training said it is facing some difficulties in implementing the directions from Official Dispatch No. 59 of the Central Steering Committee on summarizing Resolution 18.

Specifically, the vocational high school model (combining vocational education and continuing education centers) is still being proposed in the draft revised Law on Vocational Education, and there is no legal basis for implementation. The Ministry proposes to only review and streamline the centers according to inter-ward and commune areas first, and only reorganize them into vocational high schools after the law is passed by the National Assembly.

Regarding the orientation that each province and city should have no more than 3 vocational schools, the current Law on Education and Law on Vocational Education do not stipulate the concept of vocational schools, only colleges and intermediate schools. The Ministry recommends clarifying that this is the limit for public schools.

At the same time, it is proposed to consider the characteristics of localities with large labor force and many vocational training facilities such as Ho Chi Minh City (62 schools), Hanoi (54), Hai Phong (19), Ninh Binh (28), Phu Tho (21)...

The Ministry also emphasized that the arrangement needs to be carried out with both autonomous and non-autonomous schools to aim at the quality and efficiency of educational institutions.

There are instructions for arranging primary and preschool schools.

Regarding the general and preschool education system, the Ministry of Education and Training said it has issued a document providing specific guidance on the arrangement and reorganization of educational institutions in accordance with the two-level local government model.

TRAN HUYNH

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/chuan-bi-dai-de-an-tai-cau-truc-giao-duc-dai-hoc-tam-dung-sap-xep-cac-truong-truc-thuoc-20251015200511214.htm