'Strategy' to manage more than 5,000 preschools in megacities

SPECIAL ATTENTION TO INDEPENDENT YOUTH GROUPS

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, as of July 2025, after the merger, Ho Chi Minh City has 1,839 preschools, including 692 public schools and 1,147 non-public schools; more than 3,100 independent preschool groups and classes. A total of 521,552 preschool children are studying, including 220,303 children in public facilities and 301,249 children in non-public facilities.

After the merger, there are wards in Ho Chi Minh City with dozens of independent classes, and specialized clusters with hundreds of independent classes. Notably, the whole city has more than 400 independent childcare groups with a maximum of 7 children, which are also facilities that the Ho Chi Minh City preschool education sector is particularly concerned about, because if not strictly managed, there is a potential risk of unsafety for children.

The model, structure, and network of preschool education activities of 168 wards and communes are organized into 16 professional clusters, including 4 large professional clusters.

PHOTO: THUY HANG

At the professional and management meeting on August 6, the leader of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training emphasized that specialized officers of the social and cultural departments of 168 commune/ward People's Committees must closely manage non-public preschools, especially independent and private groups of children, especially groups of children with a maximum of 7 children, in strict compliance with Circular 49 of the Ministry of Education and Training to be licensed. At the same time, it is necessary to increase support and accompany these groups of children.

Many child care facilities are overcrowded.

In July, the Department of Early Childhood Education (Department of Education and Training) organized many surveys to assess the situation at 17 early childhood education facilities in the new Ho Chi Minh City. Here, there are 4 groups of up to 7 children accepting children from 18 months to 5 years old (violating regulations because the group of children is only allowed to take care of children from 3 months to 36 months old, not 5-year-old children). There is a group of children in Binh Hung Hoa Ward taking care of up to 11 children, while only allowed to take care of a maximum of 7 children.

The surveys also found that the average number of children in independent preschool groups and classes is from 15 to 68. The results reflect the number of children in independent preschool groups and classes; groups of up to 7 children are large, posing many challenges in ensuring the quality of child care and education.

Ms. Luong Thi Hong Diep, Head of the Department of Early Childhood Education, said that there are still many independent groups/classes and groups of up to 7 children that mainly organize activities to look after children, not ensuring the nurturing, care and education according to the Early Childhood Education Program of the Ministry of Education and Training. Some non-public facilities accept children of the wrong age according to the type of registration and exceed the number of children according to regulations; perform services outside of regulations such as teaching extra classes for first graders and practicing writing and beautiful handwriting for children. The facilities and environment of many facilities do not ensure safety for children...

Photo: Thuy Hang

STRENGTHENING INSPECTION AND CONTROL

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training recommends that in the coming time, wards, communes and key officials must continue to strengthen state management of preschool education, especially independent preschool groups; coordinate direction and implementation of regulations on licensing, especially independent groups; continue to monitor and support preschool facilities to comply with regulations. Cadres in charge of preschool education in wards and communes must coordinate with key principals in the locality to organize training, improve management skills, professional skills and professional ethics for the team of managers, owners of independent groups and teachers in the area.

For preschools, the leaders of the Department of Education and Training require enrollment to be based on the needs of children in the area; comply with the correct ratio of teachers to children, ensure industry regulations, and ensure absolute safety for children.

Ms. Le Thuy My Chau, Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City, requested that specialized officers of the Department of Culture and Social Affairs of the People's Committees of communes and wards; preschool education facilities; management staff and teachers must update the latest content of circulars and decrees related to preschool education.