HÀ NỘI — The capital city has managed to build only 17 out of 80 schools that meet national standards as per this year’s plan.

In addition, an increasing number of schools which were earlier deemed to satisfy national standards are facing deterioration and in need of upgrade or maintenance.

The information was disclosed by vice chairman of the Hà Nội People’s Committee Ngô Văn Quý at a meeting held on Tuesday to review the progress of building national standard schools this year and crafting plans for the following year.

These deteriorating schools, following repair, will also need to be re-evaluated to see whether they meet national standards.

From this month until the end of this year, another 182 schools are subject to re-evaluation, deemed “a difficult target” by the city vice chairman, requiring determined efforts by all district- and township-level governments.

The municipal education department has been urged to take stock of all the schools in the city and prepare a plan to ensure the target is met.

Vice chairman Quý ordered that any school – even previously certified ones – that fail to meet the five national criteria during this inspection round will be stripped of the title.

The five criteria are requirements concerning the number of classes and students, active socio-political organisations; qualified staff and managers; education quality (reflected via students’ results); infrastructure; and socialisation of education and training.

According to the Hà Nội Department of Education and Training, the 80 national standard schools to be built in 2017 are 29 kindergartens, 22 primary schools, 22 secondary schools and seven high schools.

Notably, according to the education department report, only two urban districts – Long Biên and Hoàn Kiếm – have met the target on national standard schools. All other districts in the city have failed to achieve their targets.

The plan for 2018 eyes for building another 80 national standard schools being built – 34 kindergartens, 16 primary schools, 24 secondary schools and six high schools. — VNS