Nghe An Accelerates Construction of 11 Boarding Schools in Border Areas, Targeting August 2027 Completion

Nghe An province in central Vietnam is accelerating the construction of 11 boarding schools to promote educational equality in border areas. The goal is to complete these schools by August 2027, with an estimated budget of over 4,200 billion VND (approximately 27 billion JPY). This initiative is part of a national effort, guided by the Politburo, to enhance educational infrastructure in border regions. Nghe An province plans to build a total of 21 boarding schools. The first phase, comprising 10 schools, commenced in 2025 and these have already begun the 2026-2027 academic year. The total investment for this phase was over 3,500 billion VND (approximately 22 billion JPY). The second phase, where progress is now being reviewed, involves the construction of schools in 11 border communes, including Chau Khe, Nam Can, and Tam Quang. In 2026, approximately 1,700 billion VND (approximately 11 billion JPY) has been allocated by the central government for these projects. Vo Trong Hai, Chairman of the Nghe An Provincial People's Committee, acknowledged the challenges faced by local authorities, contractors, and the specific geographical conditions, harsh climate, and limited labor and construction organization in the border areas, which have impacted project timelines. However, he urged relevant departments to shift their focus from problem-solving to decisive implementation, ensuring the progress and quality of the projects in response to the central government's significant attention and requirements. Specifically for the 11 schools in the second phase, seven projects require project approval to be completed by September 30, 2026. All 11 schools are mandated to be 100% completed by August 20, 2027, to be ready for the 2027-2028 academic year. Contractors selected will be required to provide written commitments on project timelines to the investors. The performance of contractors in the first phase, particularly regarding adherence to schedules and quality, will serve as a basis for evaluating their capacity in the second phase. Under Vietnam's one-party system, the central government pursues policies aimed at balancing economic growth with social development, striving for nationwide equity in areas such as education and infrastructure. Investment in border regions is considered a crucial measure to reduce regional disparities and maintain social stability. Furthermore, educational investment in areas like Nghe An, which shares a border with China, is deemed important not only for improving the living standards of local residents but also from the perspective of national security and social control.