Hanoi tightens public high school admissions quotas to prevent imbalances in placement

On April 2, Hanoi Department of Education and Training organized a conference to guide admissions for kindergartens, grade 1, grade 6, and grade 10 for the 2026-2027 school year and to provide guidance on the organization of the 2026 High School Graduation Exam. FIRST GIS-BASED ADMISSIONS According to the Head of the Exam and Quality Assurance Department (Hanoi Department of Education and Training), Nguyen Van Binh, the notable new feature in the 2026-2027 admissions for kindergartens, grade 1, and grade 6 is the introduction of online admissions integrated with GIS digital maps. This aims to ensure students study at the school nearest their residence, for convenience and safer travel. Therefore, public kindergartens, primary schools, and secondary schools will apply the residence-based admission method from July 1–9 on the city’s pre-school admissions portal at https://tsdaucap.hanoi.gov.vn/. For grade-10 admissions, this is also the first year when students can register three preferences to three public high schools, with no consideration of admission districts as in previous years. Students register their exam preferences online on the city’s pre-school information portal. Students can self-register (VNeID level 2 required) from April 10 to 4:00 PM on April 17. During this period, students can adjust their preferences. The prioritization of admission for kindergartens, grade 1, and grade 6 for the 2026-2027 school year is divided into two specific cases, uniformly applied across the city. Priority Group 1 includes students within the enrollment age who reside at the closest distance to the school; Priority Group 2 includes students in neighboring districts whose distance to the school is shorter than the nearest-school distance in their residential area. Regarding verification of students’ residence information for GIS-based admissions, Hanoi Police representatives stated that to serve the 2026 admissions, the social police have directed commune-level police to review, update, and complete population data to ensure every citizen has a personal identification code, a national ID, and an electronic identity account when eligible. Priority is given to last-year students and exam-takers to ensure data accuracy and avoid complaints affecting admission rights. The city police emphasize that schools must not require parents to submit a residence verification letter. The student residence data will be drawn directly from the National Population Database to ensure accuracy and consistency. If a student has not yet been issued an identity code or has incomplete information, parents should contact the local police at the commune level for guidance on updates. For students of eligible age but not yet issued a citizen ID, parents should arrange to complete procedures per school and local police announcements, ensuring completion before the admission period. The city police also noted that after review there are more than 7,900 cases without a citizen ID, mainly children born in 2011. Units are coordinating with school principals to focus on resolving these cases and aim to complete before April 10. STRENGTHENING COUNSELING TO HELP STUDENTS CHOOSE APPROPRIATE ASPIRATIONS The Director of Hanoi Department of Education and Training, Nguyen Van Hien, emphasized a student-centered approach, prioritizing schools near residence. 2026 marks the year of implementing a new admissions model and management system, and the process will raise specific situations, especially relating to residence verification. Director Nguyen Van Hien stressed that the guiding principle is to maximize students’ rights, and any arising issues will be addressed through cooperation among the Education sector, the Police, and local authorities. Localities and schools should rigorously implement the admissions plan, publicly disclose all quotas, and publish pathways according to the GIS map and required documentation at least 30 days before admissions; organize guidance for parents to self-declare residence data, promote online admissions, and use electronic identity accounts. Units should assign staff to assist parents with limited IT capacity to facilitate admissions. For grade 10 admissions, the Department will tightly manage each school’s quotas to ensure rational distribution, avoiding situations where applications overwhelm a handful of schools and cause resource waste. The online registration system will be leveraged to publicly display real-time registration numbers so students and parents can monitor and adjust preferences accordingly. Schools should boost counseling to align students’ aspirations with capability, and consider geographical distance, prioritizing schools near residence to ensure stable, long-term study conditions. Opening three preferences should be guided carefully to avoid crowding toward top schools or chọn distant schools merely to increase acceptance chances. Mr. Bui The Duy was appointed Director of Vietnam National University, Hanoi. Other items: Demands to keep the high school graduation exam unchanged; Education Ministry: Will amend regulations, not ban legitimate tutoring; and related topics. Keywords: GIS map, citizen ID, Hanoi, 2026 Graduation Exam, Nguyen Van Hien, student rights, admissions 2026-2027, online admissions