Tin classrooms plague Ho Chi Minh City school

Four classrooms at Dong An Primary School, constructed from corrugated iron, subject students to sweltering heat and poor lighting.

Following complaints from parents, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training inspected the facilities at Dong An Primary School in Tan Dong Hiep ward on 24/9.

Principal Nguyen Huu Tai explained that the school operates across two campuses, accommodating over 670 students in 17 classes. The main campus houses 12 classrooms, while the second campus has 5.

Four classrooms, built with corrugated iron for both walls and roofs approximately 10 years ago, undergo annual repairs to remain functional. Despite these efforts, the iron has succumbed to rust over the years. These classrooms become unbearably hot in sunny weather and excessively noisy during rain.

According to Tai, these makeshift classrooms are a necessity due to the school's location within a road corridor, which prohibits permanent construction. The school, primarily serving children of factory workers, lacks the funds for renovations.

Tai added that the local government has proposed a new school building at a different location and is awaiting project approval.

A classroom built over 15 years ago. Photo: Phuoc Tuan

A classroom built over 15 years ago. Photo: Phuoc Tuan

Since its expansion, Ho Chi Minh City has become a mega-education hub with approximately 2.5 million students and nearly 3,600 schools. Inadequate facilities and classrooms are a significant challenge, particularly in the former Binh Duong area.

Similar concerns have arisen at Vinh Tan Primary School, where parents recently protested the dilapidated temporary classrooms with peeling desks and rusted chairs. The furniture is also improperly sized for the students.

Nguyen Van Troi Secondary School in An Phu ward faces extreme overcrowding with 103 classes crammed into just 54 rooms, making it one of the most overcrowded schools in the country. Local authorities attribute this to rapid population growth.

On 22/9, the city's People's Committee (UBND) instructed the Department of Education and Training, along with local authorities, to conduct a comprehensive assessment of facilities and teaching equipment in all public schools. They are to categorize the extent of damage and propose solutions for repairs and new investments by 30/9.

The city has urged ward and commune UBNDs to allocate and advance funds from local budgets for immediate repairs of critical damage. Schools facing safety risks or severe deterioration must report to the Department of Education.