Vietnam education ministry denies online rumors of private school closures

The ministry said the information, which has been widely circulated online in recent days, falsely claimed that students from non-public schools would be transferred to state-run institutions.

In a statement, it warned that such misinformation was causing unnecessary panic among parents, students, and education providers.

“These are distorted, untrue statements that disrupt public understanding and negatively affect the operations of educational institutions,” the ministry said.

Authorities have forwarded details of the accounts that spread the false information to competent agencies for investigation and possible legal action, it added.

The ministry urged the public not to share or spread unverified content and to rely only on official communication channels for accurate information.

Under Vietnam’s education law, private schools — also referred to as non-public or independent schools — are legally established by individuals or organizations and are financially self-sustaining.

While they operate independently, they remain subject to government oversight and must comply with national curricula and education standards.

The statement followed similar warnings by the ministry in late September, when it denied reports of imminent restructuring or closures within the higher education system.

The ministry said it is currently working on a government-mandated proposal to evaluate and potentially reorganize the university network but stressed that no final decisions have been made.

“All proposed measures are under research and review, and any changes will be subject to government approval,” the ministry said.