Party General Secretary To Lam expressed confidence that inter-level boarding schools would soon be completed and operate effectively, becoming numerous “soft milestones” for education in border areas, contributing to human resource development.

On the morning of March 19, the Ministry of Education and Training, in coordination with Vietnam Television, Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group, and Viettel Group, along with 17 provinces and cities, held a groundbreaking and commencement ceremony simultaneously for inter-level boarding schools at primary and lower secondary levels in land border communes in 2026.

The General Secretary and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the central site at Dong Dang inter-level boarding school at primary and lower secondary levels, Dong Dang commune, Lang Son.

Leaders and former leaders of the Party and State, Deputy Prime Ministers, ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, leaders of central agencies, and leaders of provinces and cities where the projects are being launched attended the ceremony at various sites nationwide.

The groundbreaking ceremony was organized at 17 main sites and 104 online sites across the country in provinces and cities including Cao Bang, Lang Son, Tuyen Quang, Lao Cai, Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Tri, Hue, Quang Ngai, Dak Lak, Lam Dong, Tay Ninh, Dong Thap, and An Giang.

The event is a step toward realizing Conclusion No. 81-TB/TW dated July 18, 2025 of the Politburo on the policy of investing in school construction for border communes. The Government has issued Resolution No. 298/NQ-CP dated September 26, 2025 on its action plan to implement the Conclusion.

Nationwide, 248 inter-level boarding schools at primary and lower secondary levels will be invested in across 248 land border communes.

At the ceremony, delegates watched reports and shared stories highlighting efforts and joint contributions in building these schools in border communes, as well as the expectations of teachers and students for new school facilities.

Reporting on the implementation of the school construction investment project for border communes, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that thanks to the strong involvement of the entire political system, especially local authorities, on November 9, 2025, 100 inter-level boarding schools were simultaneously launched. By the end of 2025, a total of 108 schools had commenced construction, including one school completed and put into use on January 31, 2026 (Si Pa Pin inter-level boarding school at primary and lower secondary levels, Si Pa Pin commune, Dien Bien province).

During implementation, the Government and the Prime Minister directed ministries, agencies, and localities to promptly address difficulties and obstacles, particularly regarding terrain, land clearance, water supply, labor, and construction materials. At the same time, they reviewed and proposed additional funding for submission to competent authorities for approval in accordance with regulations.

Following thorough preparation by relevant ministries, sectors, and localities, the simultaneous groundbreaking and commencement of 121 additional inter-level boarding schools in land border communes has been carried out.

Together with the 108 schools launched in 2025, this brings the total to 229 inter-level boarding schools, creating conditions for comprehensive education development for students in 229 land border communes.

The Government and the Prime Minister are directing the Ministry of Education and Training and localities to continue reviewing needs and practical conditions in border communes to further implement school construction in line with the Politburo’s policy, with a view to expanding to special administrative units, including islands.

To ensure that the projects are completed soon and effectively put into use, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested the Acting Minister of Education and Training, leaders of relevant ministries and agencies, especially Party secretaries and chairpersons of localities, to continue focusing on leadership and direction, promptly resolving difficulties and supporting project implementation with the highest determination and effort. They are required to inspect and urge contractors, construction units, and supervision consultants to use resources efficiently and economically in compliance with the law, preventing loss and waste, ensuring quality, technical standards, aesthetics, functionality, and effectiveness, and completing projects before August 30, 2026 for those launched in 2025 and before August 30, 2027 for those launched on this occasion.

At the same time, the Government is directing the drafting of a decree on organization, operation, and specific mechanisms and policies to effectively manage and develop this inter-level boarding school model.

The Prime Minister expressed confidence that all inter-level boarding schools in border communes would be completed on schedule, ensuring quality and effectiveness, so that each new school will become “a place to nurture literacy, cultivate knowledge, ignite dreams, and realize aspirations,” a symbol of great national unity and the care and responsibility of the Party, State, and people toward residents in border areas, contributing to the strong development of communities and localities in mountainous areas alongside the rest of the country in a new era of prosperous, civilized, and happy development toward socialism.

In his directive speech at the ceremony, the General Secretary emphasized that in all stages of the revolution, the Party and State have always paid great attention and investment to education and training in border areas.

However, the school system, particularly inter-level boarding schools in border communes, remains limited, and learning conditions for students still face many constraints and gaps compared to those in lowland areas. Therefore, the Politburo decided to invest in building 248 inter-level boarding schools in 248 land border communes.

This is a sound policy with profound humanitarian significance, demonstrating the special attention of the Party and State to people in border, remote, and disadvantaged areas.

On behalf of Party and State leaders, General Secretary To Lam acknowledged and highly appreciated the proactiveness and responsibility of the Government, the Ministry of Education and Training, ministries, sectors, and localities in preparing projects and completing procedures to organize the groundbreaking and commencement of construction works.

To ensure that these projects are completed on schedule to serve the 2027 - 2028 academic year with the highest quality and effectiveness, he requested Party committees and local authorities to act decisively, considering this a particularly important political task during the current term, regularly inspecting, supervising, and expediting progress so that the works are implemented in the fastest, best, and most effective manner, and absolutely preventing negativity, corruption, and waste.

He also required design, construction, consulting, and supervision units to carry out their work with the highest sense of responsibility, considering these not merely construction projects but places that embody the trust and aspirations of border communities, ensuring the highest quality, absolute safety in labor, technical standards, and aesthetics, worthy of model schools in border areas and of the trust and expectations of the people, teachers, and students.

Party committees, authorities, mass organizations, and people in communes are urged to continue paying attention to the development of local education, first ensuring that all children can go to school and study in adequate conditions, while linking school construction with the preservation of local cultural identities.

Local residents are encouraged to continue accompanying, supporting, and sharing to ensure the smooth and successful implementation of the projects.

The education sector must develop schools in association with building a modern and comprehensive educational environment. In addition to teaching knowledge, it is necessary to focus on character education, fostering ideals, ethics, patriotism, and discipline among students.

Schools should not only be places for teaching and learning but must truly become “second homes” for students, ensuring proper conditions for accommodation, living, hygiene, and food safety so that parents can feel secure in entrusting their children.

General Secretary To Lam noted that through field surveys in localities, functional units have made great efforts to improve learning conditions for students. The completion of new schools has helped teachers and students gain better teaching and learning environments, ensuring equal and fair access to education for all children.

Recalling President Ho Chi Minh’s teaching on the role of education for the nation’s future, the General Secretary expressed hope that students will not only study well but also nurture dreams and aspirations, have clear life goals and ideals, love their homeland and border regions, and take pride in local traditions.

With renewed momentum and a spirit of unity and responsibility from Party committees, authorities, and people, he expressed confidence that Dong Dang inter-level boarding school in particular, and all schools launched today and previously, will soon be completed and operate effectively, becoming “soft milestones” for education in border areas, contributing to human resource development, promoting sustainable socio-economic growth, and continuing to inspire confidence in the future of the nation’s frontier regions.