This is the first of 13 schools to be built in Son La province under the Politburo’s Conclusion No. 81-TB/TW on developing schools for border communes. It also forms part of 100 schools nationwide to be newly built or renovated as pilot models for replication. The project is a meaningful tribute to the 80^th anniversary of the National Day (September 2) and the 130^th founding anniversary of Son La province.

Attending the groundbreaking ceremony were Tong Thi Phong, former Politburo member, former Standing Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly, and former Secretary  of the provincial Party Committee; Hoang Quoc Khanh, Secretary of the Party Committee; Cha A Cua, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Council; Trang Thi Xuan, Standing Vice Chairwoman of the provincial People’s Committee; Major General Dang Trong Cuong, Director of the provincial Department of Public Security; representatives of provincial departments and agencies, Phieng Khoai commune officials, as well as local residents, teachers, and students.

At the groundbreaking ceremony, leaders of the provincial Department of Public Security - the project’s investor - outlined the scale of the development. The school will be built on a planned 5-hectare site in the commune centre, with capacity for more than 1,200 students.

The project will include modern facilities such as classroom blocks, subject-specialised rooms, a library, an administrative building, dormitories, staff housing, a student canteen, as well as a multipurpose hall, a swimming pool, outdoor sports grounds and supporting infrastructure, meeting both academic and physical training needs.

In her remarks, Xuan said investing in schools along the border is a sound policy with profound humane value, reflecting the Party and State’s special attention to remote communities. She added that building a network of boarding schools not only raises education quality but also forms part of a long-term strategy to train future local officials and civil servants, contributing to reinforcing national defence and safeguarding sovereignty through border communities.

To ensure the project is completed on schedule and to the highest standards, the official urged all agencies and local authorities to closely coordinate with the project’s investor. Contractors, consultants and supervisors were asked to work with the utmost responsibility, viewing the school not merely as a construction project but as a place that embodies the hopes and dreams of border communities.

She also called on local authorities to continue promoting education and preserving ethnic cultural identity, combining academic teaching with character building and patriotism. With the strong commitment of the political system and the support of the people, Xuan expressed her hope that the boarding school will be completed ahead of schedule, becoming a “model school of the border region” and offering children at the frontier the best learning opportunities to grow into knowledgeable, skilled, and patriotic citizens with aspirations for progress.

Delegates then carried out the groundbreaking procedures for the project.