Rapid construction of border schools.

Immediately after the Politburo issued Conclusion Notice No. 81-TB/TW on the policy of investing in school construction for border communes, our province established special working groups led by provincial People's Committee leaders to conduct surveys and on-site inspections in 13 border communes, determining investment plans, designs, and cost estimates in accordance with technical standards and educational objectives. Departments and agencies, in coordination with local authorities, finalized the planning, compensation, and land clearance plans according to regulations; and compiled a list and preliminary cost estimates to submit to the Government for the investment in the construction of 13 boarding schools with a total investment of over 3,300 billion VND.

Construction has begun on the Long Sap Commune Boarding School Project, encompassing primary and secondary levels.

To ensure the progress of the projects, the Provincial People's Committee issued a Decision on applying a special mechanism for the investment and construction of 13 multi-level boarding schools under the special public investment mechanism stipulated in Clause 21, Article 7 of Law No. 90/2025/QH15. This mechanism allows the investor to independently decide on all aspects of the investment activity, apply direct contracting, implement the project using the design-build method, and streamline procedures related to budget, construction, bidding, environment, and mineral resources. This is a breakthrough, creating the beginning of an unprecedented rapid campaign to ensure the fastest possible construction of the projects.

Mr. Nguyen Van Chien, Director of the Department of Education and Training, said: "This is a very special task, covering a vast area, with a tight deadline. We must ensure both rapid progress and compliance with legal regulations. Therefore, from the beginning, the departments and agencies have closely coordinated with the localities, working with the spirit of '6 clear' (clear person, clear task, clear responsibility, clear authority, clear time, clear results). The Department of Education and Training is the permanent agency, responsible for coordinating, supervising, and compiling weekly progress reports. The Department of Construction is responsible for appraising technical documents and guiding planning; the Department of Finance advises on capital allocation and decides on the application of special mechanisms; the Department of Agriculture and Environment guides land procedures, forest land use conversion, and environmental protection. The Provincial Military Command and the Provincial Police mobilize forces and resources to support construction and ensure security and order during implementation." Electricity, transportation, and telecommunications units will coordinate to provide technical infrastructure, prioritizing power supply and connections to serve the project.

Provincial People's Committee leaders inspect the progress of the project's construction.

In the implementation phase, land clearance was the biggest challenge, due to the enormous amount of land that needed to be cleared and the tight timeframe. With the spirit of "The whole nation for our beloved border students," the border communes of the province simultaneously mobilized the people to donate land and contribute labor. Thousands of square meters of land were donated, and hundreds of people participated in leveling and transporting materials. As a result, land clearance was basically completed in a short time, a vivid testament to the strength of national unity in building the future in the border regions of the Fatherland.

Mr. Vi Van Thanh, Party Secretary and Head of Ta Vang village, Long Phieng commune, shared: "After just one village meeting to announce the plan to build a school, the villagers understood the significance of the project and showed great consensus and agreement. Households voluntarily relocated their belongings and even donated land to hand over the site, allowing the project to begin construction soon. We hope that our children will receive a comprehensive education and contribute to the development of our homeland."

"The 100-Day Campaign"

In line with the Prime Minister's directive, "Build schools in border areas boldly and swiftly like the Quang Trung campaign," on March 18, 2026, the People's Committee of Son La province launched the "100-Day Campaign" to accelerate the progress of inter-level boarding school construction projects, aiming to complete the project before the new school year 2026-2027.

Construction is underway on the Phiêng Khoai Primary and Secondary Boarding School Project.

At the construction site of the Long Sap Primary and Secondary Boarding School project, as the sun rose, groups of workers began their day's work. Amidst the scorching heat of the Vietnam-Laos border region, the pace of work was hurried and urgent, the sound of concrete mixers blending with the rhythmic footsteps on the scaffolding. Nearly 300 workers, divided into several teams, spread across the construction site to carry out the construction of various components: the administrative building, the subject classrooms, the theoretical building, and the boarding area.

Mr. Tran Trung Kien, the project commander, said: "The unit is currently maintaining nearly 300 workers, organizing construction in a phased manner, simultaneously leveling the ground and carrying out construction. To date, the project has reached over 60% of its volume. Taking advantage of the time before the rainy season, we are focusing on implementing outdoor items, mobilizing maximum manpower and equipment to prioritize the construction of the main items to ensure progress. The construction process strictly adheres to technical standards, flexibly adjusting methods to suit the terrain and weather. The unit's overarching principle is to accelerate progress without compromising quality."

The construction site of Chiềng Sơn Primary and Secondary Boarding School during the night shift.

Meanwhile, in Chiềng Sơn border commune, the construction site of the multi-level boarding school has been bustling for nearly two months. With the spirit of "working day and night," hundreds of engineers, workers, and laborers from Mộc Châu Investment and Construction Joint Stock Company are diligently working on the site with the highest effort and determination to complete the project on schedule. Mr. Lưu Văn Cường, Team Leader of Construction Team No. 1, said: "Currently, the workers maintain a work pace of 12-14 hours per day. Teams are divided into shifts and work even at night to ensure the progress of each item. Everyone is striving to overcome difficulties related to the weather and making the most of their time to accelerate progress and ensure the quality of the project."

The Chiềng Sơn Primary and Secondary Boarding School project has a total investment of 230 billion VND; covering an area of ​​5 hectares with 23 items and auxiliary works. Mr. Bùi Duy Hiệp, Deputy Director of Mộc Châu Investment and Construction Joint Stock Company and the project's chief commander, said: Implementing the "100-day campaign to accelerate the construction progress of boarding schools in border communes," from March until now, we have maintained more than 260 workers and 10 construction vehicles of various types, divided into 3 shifts and 4 teams working day and night. The shifts extend until 10 PM daily to take advantage of favorable weather and make up for any remaining work. To date, the contractor has completed over 65% of the total project volume.

Each school is a "milestone" in the hearts of the people.

Alongside ensuring construction progress, the organizational structure and human resources plan has also been meticulously prepared, ready to operate smoothly and efficiently immediately after the projects are handed over. To date, 13 border communes of the province have issued plans for establishing boarding primary and secondary schools and reorganizing general education facilities in their areas.

Construction is underway on the Long Sap Commune Boarding School project, encompassing primary and secondary levels.

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Tuan, Chairman of the People's Committee of Sop Cop Commune, informed: Currently, there are 4 primary and secondary schools in the commune with a total of over 5,000 students. In the 2026-2027 school year, after the establishment of the boarding school for primary and secondary levels, Sop Cop Commune will enroll 30 classes with 1,050 students. Priority will be given to children of ethnic minorities and families receiving preferential treatment in the border area. The commune has also developed a plan for personnel, assigning qualified management staff and teachers, especially those fluent in ethnic languages, to teach at the boarding school.

Captain Nguyen Manh Phuong, Deputy Political Officer of the Muong Lan Border Guard Station, happily shared: "When the Party and State decided to build border boarding schools, everyone was joyful and excited. Each well-built school is not only a place to sow the seeds of knowledge, but also an important 'milestone' in the people's border defense strategy, helping border areas narrow the development gap, creating a foundation for raising the intellectual level of the people, and reducing poverty sustainably."

When students are given access to modern knowledge, equipped with legal knowledge, life skills, and an understanding of their homeland's traditions, they will develop a sense of responsibility, patriotism, and attachment to the land where they live. Quàng Thị Mai, a Thai ethnic student at Sốp Cộp Primary and Secondary School, said with a radiant smile: "We look forward to the day we can study at the new school. The school has a boarding facility and we can learn many extracurricular subjects. We promise to study hard so that we can contribute to building a more prosperous and comfortable highland border village in the future."

Looking back at the entire process of implementing the Politburo's Conclusion No. 81-TB/TW in Son La province, profound practical lessons can be clearly seen: decisive leadership and guidance; and creativity in mechanisms and policies. Each directive document demonstrates flexible and decisive management, ensuring a systematic approach from planning, investment, and design to construction organization, mobilization of resources, and quality control. In addition, the consensus and joint efforts of the people, along with the determined and rapid construction spirit, have brought border boarding schools to life day by day.

At the meeting of the Steering Committee for the implementation of investment in the construction of inter-level primary and secondary boarding schools in border communes, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Viet, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, affirmed: The construction of boarding schools is of paramount importance, creating conditions for children of ethnic minorities in border areas to study and live in a spacious and convenient environment; contributing to improving the quality of education and training human resources for the locality. Departments, agencies, investors, contractors, and localities are working together closely towards a common goal, determined to ensure the quality, progress, and completion of border boarding school projects before the new school year.

With a spirit of unwavering determination: "Working together in unity - High resolve - Decisive action - Reaching the finish line on schedule," and the vigorous involvement of the entire political system, the completion of 13 multi-level boarding schools on schedule will be the most meaningful gift for the children of ethnic minorities, creating a solid foundation for improving the quality of human resources and strengthening the people's trust in the border region.

Amidst the vast, sun-drenched, windswept borderlands, the resounding sound of school drums will soon echo; the magnificent school buildings, adorned with the national flag, will welcome thousands of eager students, carrying with them dreams and aspirations for a better future in this frontier region of the Fatherland.

Huy Ngoan - Hoang Giang