Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan chaired an online conference yesterday to consider the possibility of relocating universities and colleges to suburban areas of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

At the conference, concerned ministries shared opinions on the topic of relocating education centers and facilities from the central areas of both the cities.

The Ministry of Construction proposed to relocate only those establishments that covered less than two hectares, with poor grade infrastructure.

The Ministry of Education and Training suggested preservation and restoration of schools that had cultural, historical and heritage value. The Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan appreciated this opinion.

The ministry also suggested that schools with two or more branches must relocate.

Bui Van Nga, Deputy Minister of Education and Training said that this year the ministry had not received any information on upgrading of universities or colleges in HCMC and Hanoi.

The ministry had however asked local authorities and schools to reduce the ratio of students studying in the central parts of Hanoi and HCMC from nearly 479,000 to 15,000 by 2030.

According to the Ministry of Education and Training, Hanoi and HCMC will have to relocate at least 40 schools to balance the requirement.

Initially, each city will relocate five establishments each at a total capital cost of US$600, excluding site clearance fees.

Within the next five-years, each locality will continue to relocate 10 – 15 establishments while the rest will gradually phase relocation by 2030.

Towards the end of the conference, Mr. Nhan ordered the education ministry to work with the people’s committee of both HCMC and Hanoi to speed the relocation process of education centers.

He also instructed the Ministry of Construction to submit a plan on the construction of universities and colleges in Hanoi and HCMC by July 10 to Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

Source: SGGP