Schools disappear as economy blooms in Phu Quoc
Schools in Phu Quoc Island are being removed for various projects as a huge number of investments are being made in the island.
According to the Phu Quoc Department of Education and Training, up to seven schools have been removed to open new markets and roads, including the Duong Dong 2 Primary School. Duong Dong 2 was built at the cost of over VND3.8 billion (USD152,000) and the land was withdrawn in 2012 for Duong Dong Market Project. The investor only compensated the construction cost and refused to pay the land price or help with the relocation.
There are 10 other schools that will be shut down for all types of projects including three primary and secondary schools and one nursery school in Bai Thom Commune. Both the local authorities and investors have yet to offer any relocation solutions for those schools.
Bai Thom's Chairman Dao Van Dong, said, "The projects are listed but haven't started yet. The hamlets in Bai Thom are located far from each other so it is necessary to maintain various school sites. Only when the investors help build a new school site first that we'll transfer the property."
Ganh Dau Commune has two school sites on the to-be-removed list, Ham Ninh Commune also has two school sites while Hon Thom Commune and Duong Dong Town have one school site each. Over 6,500 out of 9,800 square metres of Duong Dong 3 Primary School will be withdrawn for Silk Path City, a luxury resort project, because the school is located in the town's centre.
Dong Thanh Dat, head of Phu Quoc Department of Education and Training, admitted that they were facing difficulties from rising population to plots of school land being withdrawn. The schools on the to-be-removed list are not allowed to make any major renovation work despite the severe deterioration.
"Many schools in Duong Dong Town is already overloaded with 48 to 51 pupils per class," he said.
Development on Phu Quoc Island bloomed after the plans to develop Phu Quoc into an international hub for tourism and special economic zone were announced.
Ham Ninh school site to be removed
According to the Phu Quoc Department of Education and Training, up to seven schools have been removed to open new markets and roads, including the Duong Dong 2 Primary School. Duong Dong 2 was built at the cost of over VND3.8 billion (USD152,000) and the land was withdrawn in 2012 for Duong Dong Market Project. The investor only compensated the construction cost and refused to pay the land price or help with the relocation.
There are 10 other schools that will be shut down for all types of projects including three primary and secondary schools and one nursery school in Bai Thom Commune. Both the local authorities and investors have yet to offer any relocation solutions for those schools.
Bai Thom's Chairman Dao Van Dong, said, "The projects are listed but haven't started yet. The hamlets in Bai Thom are located far from each other so it is necessary to maintain various school sites. Only when the investors help build a new school site first that we'll transfer the property."
Ganh Dau Commune has two school sites on the to-be-removed list, Ham Ninh Commune also has two school sites while Hon Thom Commune and Duong Dong Town have one school site each. Over 6,500 out of 9,800 square metres of Duong Dong 3 Primary School will be withdrawn for Silk Path City, a luxury resort project, because the school is located in the town's centre.
Dong Thanh Dat, head of Phu Quoc Department of Education and Training, admitted that they were facing difficulties from rising population to plots of school land being withdrawn. The schools on the to-be-removed list are not allowed to make any major renovation work despite the severe deterioration.
"Many schools in Duong Dong Town is already overloaded with 48 to 51 pupils per class," he said.
Development on Phu Quoc Island bloomed after the plans to develop Phu Quoc into an international hub for tourism and special economic zone were announced.
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