Colonel Trần Hữu Nhân, Deputy Chief of Staff of Military Region 7, announces the decision to establish the Southern Cadet School at a ceremony in HCM City on March 28. — Photos Courtesy of Military Region 7

HCM CITY — The Southern Cadet School was officially established in HCM City on March 28 under Military Region 7, marking a significant step in strengthening military education and training for students in southern Việt Nam.

The announcement ceremony was attended by Lieutenant General Nguyễn Trường Thắng, member of the Party Central Committee and Deputy Minister of National Defence, along with former HCM City leaders and senior military officials.

Located in Bến Đình Hamlet in the city’s Nhuận Đức Commune, the Southern Cadet School was established under Decision No. 444 issued by the Ministry of National Defence in late January.

It will operate as a unit under Military Region 7.

The institution is a specialised school within Việt Nam’s national defence and education system, tasked with providing both general education and military-oriented training to outstanding students, particularly those from ethnic minority groups, policy beneficiary families and disadvantaged backgrounds in Military Regions 7 and 9.

Operating under a boarding school model, the school will manage students’ academic and daily activities closely to ensure a disciplined, safe and supportive learning environment while nurturing patriotism, responsibility and life skills.

The school will provide general education from grades six to 12 and also train international students from countries such as Laos and Cambodia at upper secondary level. With modern classrooms, laboratories, sports facilities and residential areas, it is designed to accommodate around 1,000 students.

In the 2026–27 academic year, the school will enroll its first cohort of 100 sixth-grade students from Military Regions 7 and 9 and is scheduled to begin operations in September 2026.

Lieutenant General Nguyễn Trường Thắng, Deputy Minister of National Defence, speaks at a ceremony announcing the establishment of the Southern Cadet School in HCM City on March 28.

At the ceremony, Military Region 7 announced the decision of the Minister of National Defence on the establishment of the school, presented the “Quyết thắng” (Determination to Win) military flag and introduced the institution’s Party Committee.

Speaking at the event, Nguyễn Thiện Nhân, a former student of the Nguyễn Văn Trỗi Cadet School, described the establishment as a meaningful initiative that would contribute to the development of the military and the country over the next 50 years.

He said his own experience at a cadet school had demonstrated the importance of such institutions in shaping discipline, patriotism and a strong sense of responsibility among young people.

Lieutenant General Nguyễn Trường Thắng, Deputy Minister of National Defence, presents the “Quyết thắng” (Determination to Win) military flag to the Southern Cadet School at a ceremony in HCM City on March 28.

Lieutenant General Nguyễn Trường Thắng described the new school as a major milestone in military education and human resource development for the Việt Nam People’s Army, calling on Military Region 7 to quickly complete the organisational structure, strengthen teaching staff and facilities, and develop modern training programmes.

“Teachers, officers and staff must serve as role models for young students and pay close attention to their psychological development, as most of them will begin training at an early age,” he said.

He also urged the school to consider enrolling children orphaned by the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that they require special care and educational support.

He said the establishment of the school reflected the dedication of former Deputy Defence Minister Phan Trung Kiên and Military Region 7 leadership, expressing confidence that the institution would become a key training centre for future generations serving national defence and national development. — VNS