The full text of the letter is as follows:
In accordance with the direction of the Politburo and the Resolutions of the National Assembly and the Government on restructuring the organisational apparatus of the political system, reorganising administrative units at all levels and building a two-tier local government model in order to improve the performance, effectiveness and efficiency of state management, the number of provinces and centrally governed cities nationwide will be reduced from 63 to 34.
The Viet Nam Association for Vocational Education, Training and Social Work (VAVET&SOW) (hereinafter "the Association") fully supports this policy of the Party and the State. However, in the current process of restructuring and merging in the field of vocational education and training (TVET), a number of vocational education institutions that are members of the Association have raised several issues relating to the planning of vocational education institutions in their localities. Based on a synthesis of views from local practice, the Association would like to make the following recommendations to the Ministry:
- Policies and orientations of the Party and the State on restructuring the organisational apparatus
- Conclusion No. 127-KL/TW of 28 February 2025 of the Politburo and the Secretariat on further research and proposals for restructuring the organisational apparatus of the political system set out the following objectives and requirements: "Party committees, agencies and organisations assigned tasks must coordinate closely and promptly, ensuring quality, effectiveness and progress. The process of restructuring and streamlining the organisational apparatus must ensure the regular and continuous operation of agencies and organisations, without interruption and without affecting the activities of the Party, the State, the people and enterprises."
Conclusion No. 137-KL/TW of 28 March 2025 of the Politburo and the Secretariat on the Scheme for reorganising administrative units at all levels and building a two-tier local government model clearly stated: "Keep education and health public service units unchanged and transfer lower secondary schools, primary schools, kindergartens and health stations of the new grassroots units to commune-level authorities, so as to ensure healthcare for people at the grassroots and sufficient schools and classes for pupils in the locality..." and "For other public service units, the Government Party Committee is tasked with directing and guiding the streamlining of focal points, ensuring the provision of many basic and essential public services in commune-level and inter-commune administrative units."
- Resolution No. 190/2025/QH15 of the National Assembly of 29 February 2025 regulating the handling of a number of issues related to the restructuring of the state apparatus sets out the principle: "Ensure conformity with the Constitution and a legal basis for the normal, continuous and smooth operation of agencies; avoid interruptions in work, and avoid overlaps, duplication or omissions of functions, tasks, fields and areas; do not affect the normal activities of society, the people and enterprises."
- Resolution No. 74/NQ-CP of the Government of 7 April 2025 promulgating the plan for reorganising administrative units and building a two-tier local government model assigned the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) the responsibility to: "Issue guidance to ensure the maintenance and improvement of the quality and effectiveness of educational and training institutions in administrative units undergoing reorganisation... Provide guidance on state management of educational and training institutions in provinces and cities when district-level administrative units cease to operate and commune-level administrative units are reorganised in localities,... and other related issues within the state management remit of the Ministry of Education and Training."
- In the spirit of the above directions, the Association respectfully requests that the Ministry of Education and Training guide and consult with state management agencies in the localities so that, before vocational education institutions are merged, careful consideration is given, backed by both theoretical and practical research; mergers should not be carried out hastily or rigidly. Otherwise, problems will arise for learners' participation in the TVET system in areas that cover large territories (after merger), especially in remote areas, islands, ethnic minority areas and economically disadvantaged localities.
As long as the relevant legal documents (laws, decrees, strategies, master plans, etc.) remain inconsistent, we propose keeping the network of vocational education institutions stable for the time being, until the National Assembly adopts the Constitution and relevant laws and decides on the new administrative units. We also request that the Government and the Ministry urgently develop a master plan for the network of vocational education institutions within the overall master plan for the network of educational institutions.
The Association hopes to receive the attention of the Ministry, state management agencies and localities in helping to develop an open and flexible TVET system that ensures and meets the demand for human resources and the people's opportunities for lifelong learning, in line with local socio-economic growth requirements.
The Association respectfully looks forward to the Ministry's attention and timely direction.