The new academic year started today for 1.5 million students in Ho Chi Minh City for the new academic year 2016-2017.

Teacher and students in Le Dinh Chinh Primary School in Binh Thanh District welcome the new academic year (Photo: SGGP)

The municipal Department of Education and Training said that schools can admit all students though the number of students has increased by 59,000. The city has invested in building tens of schools from preschools to senior high school with total cost of VND5,200 billion (US$ 233,149,822) and put into operation of 2,029 new classrooms.

Especially, city authority has invested in approximately VND100 billion (US$ 4,499,343) to build schools in outlying districts. Additionally, districts have spent hundreds of billion repairing and upgrading school facilities.

Earlier, the city also spent VND795 billion (US$ 35,640,057) for a project to buy modern teaching equipment and upgrading labs and IT rooms for schools.

In the new academic year, city authority recruits 4,900 new teachers to meet the sector's increasing demand.

The city will continue improve teaching and learning as well as allows teachers to adjust teaching time. Students will work in group or team or self-studying in stead of learning by heart. Schools also organize extra activities to encourage students to participate in scientific research and apply knowledge into practice.