Vietnam provinces review school principal appointments after mergers

Educational authorities in Vietnam's Ha Tinh and Nghe An provinces are addressing challenges regarding the appointment of principals following the restructuring and merger of several schools.

In Ha Tinh, three inter-level schools—Ky Van Primary-Secondary, Ky Tay Primary-Secondary, and Duc Dong Primary-Secondary—have yet to appoint permanent principals. Local officials in Ky Van reported that while vice-principals have been assigned to manage operations, delays in appointing permanent heads stem from unclear provincial guidelines regarding scoring criteria and selection principles. There are reported discrepancies where candidates with higher scores may lack the practical experience required for managing merged inter-level models.

In Nghe An, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Thai Van Thanh, has ordered a review of personnel files and appointment processes in Huu Khuong and Bac Ly communes. This follows public concern regarding principal appointments at local schools. Authorities have been instructed to ensure that the selection of leaders for merged primary and secondary schools is objective, transparent, and strictly adheres to current regulations and professional standards to avoid impacting the teaching environment.