In Vietnam, multimillion-dollar school unfinished, abandoned, deteriorating
Wednesday, December 25, 2024, 09:50 GMT+7
A high school construction project in Nghe An Province, north-central Vietnam, valued at over VND400 billion (US$15.7 million), has been left unfinished and abandoned for several years, falling into disrepair.
Founded in 1974, Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted is celebrated for its outstanding academic achievements and its track record in preparing students for national academic competitions.
In 2018, provincial authorities approved a plan to relocate the school from Hung Binh Ward to a new campus in Nghi An Commune.
The project was meant to have three phases and broke ground in 2021 with funding delegated from the local budget and Asian Development Bank’s Secondary Education Sector Development Program.
Phase 1, managed by the provincial Department of Education and Training, was supposed to be completed in one year, with the subsequent phases handled by the province’s management board for civil construction investment projects.
Spanning over 85,000 square meters, the design would feature classrooms, functional rooms, a library, dormitories, a canteen, fire protection systems, an electricity substation, and an underground water tank.
By 2022, the first phase was completed but the new campus failed to meet operational standards.
Consequently, the site has been paused indefinitely for nearly two years.
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| The first phase of building a new campus of Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted was finished in 2022, but the project was stalled afterward due to financial strain. After being abandoned for nearly two years, the site shows signs of deterioration. Photo: Doan Hoa / Tuoi Tre |
A recent site visit by a Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper correspondent revealed that the project is mostly completed but showing signs of decay.
The site is overgrown with grass and plants, the walls are marked with cracks, the stair railings have rusted, and the ceiling surfaces are peeling, cracked, and stained, with visible water damage.
No construction workers or security personnel were present at the site.
The project management board estimated that an additional VND300 billion ($11.7 million) is required to complete the project.
The board is seeking approval from the provincial People’s Council to allocate extra funding to resume construction and open the campus in 2026-30.
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| Ceilings in the stalled campus are peeling. Photo: Doan Hoa / Tuoi Tre |
The vice-chairman of the Provincial People’s Council, Nguyen Nhu Khoi, said at a recent press briefing that aside from this high school project, other key public works in Vinh City, the provincial capital, have experienced significant delays and inefficiencies.
He added that the People’s Council will inspect the key public projects and work with the People’s Committee to ensure better oversight and faster progress.
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