This is a proposal from the Ministry of Education and Training to provincial People's Committees, outlined in guidance issued on 15/8 regarding addressing existing issues in the education sector.

According to the Ministry, suitable candidates for these boards and groups include current and retired education administrators and teachers. Local authorities will determine the operational methods based on their specific circumstances. These groups will not be new administrative units or organizations, but rather specialized task forces operating concurrently for specific periods.

Additionally, local authorities need to find ways to mobilize individuals who previously worked in the Department of Education and Training, or to recruit and second education administrators and experienced teachers to fill commune-level education specialist positions.

Students and teachers at Dinh Tien Hoang primary school, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Quynh Tran

Students and teachers at Dinh Tien Hoang primary school, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Quynh Tran

The Ministry's proposal comes as only about 20-30% of commune-level education officials have relevant expertise or experience. The rest come from various departments merged previously, such as Ethnic Affairs and Religion, Justice, Youth Union, Agriculture and Environment, District Inspectorate, Home Affairs, and the Red Cross.

Many lack pedagogical qualifications, with backgrounds in unrelated fields such as land management, animal husbandry, medicine, construction engineering, food technology, pharmacy, and general internal medicine.

According to the Ministry, local authorities need to organize training and development programs for this group, equipping them with information technology skills and the ability to apply artificial intelligence in their work.

Currently, Vietnam has over 3,320 communes and wards, each with a Department of Culture and Society. This department is responsible for education, overseeing preschools, primary schools, and lower secondary schools (previously under district jurisdiction). Each department has a maximum of two staff members assigned to education and training, but most have only one, according to Ministry of Education and Training statistics. Meanwhile, the number of schools and students in many communes and wards can range from a few thousand to tens of thousands.

Minister Nguyen Kim Son emphasized in early August that providing support at the commune level is an urgent requirement.

Thanh Hang