VNExpress-Mar 16
Hanoi needs 986 new schools over the next two decades to keep pace with a student population that grows by tens of thousands each year, according to a draft master plan open for public comment until March 23. The capital currently has 2,954 preschools and general education schools serving 2.3 million students, second only to Ho Chi Minh City. But the system is straining. The city adds roughly 50,000 to 60,000 students every year, the equivalent of 30 to 40 new schools, and some classrooms in fast-growing wards already pack in 50 to 60 children per class. The school construction plan is part of Hanoi’s Comprehensive Master Plan with a 100-year vision, a sweeping blueprint that aims to reshape the capital’s infrastructure, housing and public services through 2045 and beyond. The plan projects Hanoi’s population reaching 15 to 16 million by 2045, up from around 9 million today. The city calculates school demand using student-to-population ratios for each residential area. For preschool, planners estimate 70 to 75 children per 1,000 residents depending on whether the area is urban or suburban. For primary and middle school, the range is 60 to 70 per 1,000 residents, and for high school, 40 to 45. Based on those projections, Hanoi needs 986 additional schools between 2031 and 2045. Preschools account for the largest share at 441, followed by primary schools at 288, middle schools at 166 and high schools at 91. Under the plan, every commune, ward or new urban area must have at least one preschool, one primary school and one middle school, while each area with 30,000 to 50,000 residents will have a high school. The city has identified 33 wards as priority areas where school shortages are most acute. Read more at:
