Lai Chau (VNA) – The Ministry of Public Security, in coordination with the People’s Committee of Lai Chau province, has recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for two primary and lower secondary boarding schools for ethnic minority students in Pa Tan and Bum Nua communes.
At the event, Sen. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Van Long, Deputy Minister of Public Security, stated that the building of the two inter-level boarding schools represents a significant policy initiative from the Party, the State, and the Ministry of Public Security. These projects aim to provide better learning conditions and enhance the quality of education for ethnic minority students, helping strengthen national defence and security, and promote socio-economic development in border areas.
Appreciating the Ministry of Public Security's assistance, Le Van Luong, Deputy Secretary of the Lai Chau Party Committee and Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, stressed that the two projects will not only address the shortage of educational facilities and boarding accommodations for border-area students but also create a modern, safe, and friendly learning environment.
The schools will offer long-term and good opportunities for thousands of ethnic minority students, support sustainable local development, and reinforce the great national solidarity.
The province pledged to direct relevant agencies to accelerate site clearance and ensure favourable conditions for project implementation, and quality and timely completion. Once completed, the schools will be used effectively, with educational activities tailored to local conditions and cultural traditions of ethnic minorities, and with qualified management and teaching staff, turning them into true homes of knowledge for border-area children.
Following the Politburo’s conclusion in Announcement No. 81-TB/TW, dated July 18, 2025, on the policy of building boarding schools in border communes, Lai Chau province has reviewed and proposed the construction of 11 boarding schools across 11 communes. The Ministry of Public Security has offered support in building the two schools in Pa Tan and Bum Nua.
Each project, with an investment of 200 billion VND (7.58 million USD) sourced from the central budget and other legal funds for the 2026–2030 period, will consist of about 30 classrooms to accommodate 1,000 students. Construction is carried out in 2025. These key projects are designed with modern and standardised facilities meeting Level-2 infrastructure standards.
On this occasion, the Ministry of Public Security also presented gifts to 10 policy beneficiary households and 10 village elders, village heads, and respected figures in the two communes; donated gifts to local police; provided 20 desktop computers for the two schools; and offered 10,000 books, 500 sets of uniforms, schoolbags and learning tools, along with a 100 million VND scholarship fund for each school.
Earlier, Lai Chau province, in collaboration with the Vietnam National Industry - Energy Group, launched the construction of the Phong Tho Primary and Lower Secondary Boarding School. With a total investment of nearly 200 billion VND, including 100 billion VND sponsored by the group, the project covers 4.5–5 ha, including an administrative building, 30 classrooms, dormitories, three kitchens, a canteen, recreational facilities, a sports complex, teacher housing, a multi-functional hall, and a swimming pool. Scheduled for completion by August 30, 2026, the school will contribute to comprehensive education for ethnic minority children and improve educational infrastructure for the 2025–2030 period.
In July, the Politburo agreed on the policy of investing in building primary and secondary boarding schools in 248 land border communes across the country.This is a key task in socio-economic development and implementing ethnic policies to improve education levels, the quality of human resources, develop a pool of local and ethnic minority officials, and better the material and spiritual lives of people in border areas, contributing to strengthening national defence and security.At least 100 new or renovated schools are to be completed in 2025, no later than the start of the new academic year. These schools will serve as models for broader implementation, with the overall goal of building 248 schools within the next two to three years. The schools must meet technical standards in terms of design, scale, and classroom space, and be fully equipped with facilities to support learning, spiritual and physical development, and daily living conditions, and ensure absolute safety./.
