The annual crisis of nearly 30,000 students being unable to secure a spot in Hanoi’s public high schools is not new. This issue has lingered for years due to unmet targets and resolutions on constructing public schools, especially high schools.

Years-long shortage of public high schools

A late-2023 report from the Hanoi People’s Council on school admissions and infrastructure flagged numerous persistent issues.

According to VietNamNet's research, a 2012 resolution by the council mandated that every ward or commune with a population between 30,000 to 50,000 must have at least one public high school. However, implementation has fallen short, particularly in inner-city districts. Between 2020 and 2023, only six public high schools were built citywide.

Based on national technical regulations on urban planning, areas with populations of 20,000 or more require at least one high school. With Hanoi's population reaching approximately 8.7 million, the city should have at least 435 high schools. As of now, there are only 119 public high schools, over 100 private ones, nearly 30 continuing education centers, and a few international schools. This means Hanoi currently lacks over 150 high schools.

Among Hanoi's 12 urban districts, Hoang Mai has the largest shortage with a need for around 18 more schools. Other underserved districts include Ha Dong, Dong Da, Ba Dinh, Bac Tu Liem, and Long Bien.

Districts like Cau Giay, Thanh Xuan, and Nam Tu Liem meet national standards primarily because they host many private, semi-public, and international schools. For instance, Nam Tu Liem has four public high schools and 14 private or international institutions. Thanh Xuan also has four public high schools alongside 11 private ones.

A 2023 city report on school construction and renovation projected that Hanoi needs to build 53 new public high schools between 2023 and 2027 to meet demand.

However, in the 2023-2024 school year, only one new public high school was opened, with two more planned for 2024-2025 - far below what is needed.

According to the Hanoi Department of Education and Training, districts most in need of public high schools based on current 9th-grade graduation figures include: Cau Giay, Tay Ho, Ha Dong, Hoang Mai, and Nam Tu Liem.

269 schools across urban areas behind schedule

Dr. Tran Thanh Nam, Vice President of the University of Education (Vietnam National University, Hanoi), attributes the school shortage to poor planning, high rural-to-urban migration, and limited regulatory oversight. He emphasized that Hanoi experiences a high rate of mechanical population growth as people relocate for work and education, while school construction hasn’t kept pace.

“Apartment complexes are approved without allocating land for schools. This rapid urbanization without educational infrastructure has led to a severe shortage of school space. On top of that, the lack of incentives for private schools has kept tuition fees prohibitively high,” Nam explained.

Agreeing with this view, Dr. Dao Ngoc Nghiem, former Director of Hanoi’s Department of Planning and Architecture, said inaccurate population forecasts have hindered school construction. For example, Hanoi was projected to hit 9.2 million residents by 2030 but is already nearing that number in 2024.

New urban areas are supposed to follow school-to-population ratios, but their growth has outpaced planning. Moreover, many new schools lack appropriate size and facilities.

Some experts have proposed allowing taller school buildings to save space, but safety regulations pose a significant hurdle. Buildings would need not only stairs but elevators and sufficient emergency exits.

A 2023 city report also identified that outdated planning, fast population growth, and limited land in inner districts are the primary reasons for school overcrowding. By the end of 2023, 269 schools (about 70% of those in the city’s development plan) in new urban zones were behind construction schedule.

Efforts to build more schools still lag behind demand

Tran The Cuong, Director of Hanoi’s Department of Education and Training, stated that the city has requested funding to construct more public high schools, but the process takes time.

“It’s a significant challenge because launching a new school requires everything from investment approval and land clearance to fire safety permits and compliance with modern construction standards,” he noted.

Still, he emphasized that Hanoi is committed to expanding school infrastructure. Between 2017 and 2023, the city added 11 new public high schools.

In 2025, 76 high schools are under construction. Of those, 42 - three of which are newly built - are expected to be completed in time for the 2025-2026 school year.

From 2025 to 2030, the city aims to build 30-35 new public high schools to meet growing demand.

“In parallel, Hanoi is renovating existing classrooms to accommodate more students and adding new labs and subject-specific rooms. About 900 new or upgraded classrooms will be ready for the upcoming school year,” Cuong added.

Thuy Nga - Hoang Thanh