Commune-level education staff without expertise: Solutions to overcome difficulties

In recent times, there have been significant changes in the field of state administrative management, especially after mergers and restructurings. However, in addition to the advantages, the merger and restructuring process also poses many challenges, especially in terms of human resources and professional management capacity.

The current arrangement of commune-level personnel to meet the number of positions leads to difficulties in performing local duties for education officials. The following proposals will help to remove difficulties for commune-level education officials.

The development of education is the result of effective coordination between sectors, levels and communities.

Photo: Nhat Thinh

Establishment of local education advisory group

Managers and key teachers with professional competence, IT skills and innovative thinking are members of this advisory group. The number depends on the reality but must ensure that there are enough 3 levels: preschool, primary and secondary.

In terms of general education, this advisory group will carry out the task of supporting professional work at the level of education it is responsible for. The important thing when carrying out its responsibilities is to synthesize the contributions, including conflicting opinions, and have positive feedback to clear up difficulties and carry out common tasks together. When put into operation, of course there will be problems that need to be solved, but if the initial challenges are overcome and with a high sense of responsibility from all members, it will reduce the pressure on education staff at the commune level. Deploying core contents, organizing knowledge and skills training courses, sharing useful data and information, and making recommendations to competent authorities in carrying out educational tasks at the local level are the key tasks of this advisory group.

Establish a separate electronic portal for the education sector

After having a consulting team, the next thing is to establish an electronic information portal for the local education sector to post content and documents related to education to make it public so that everyone knows about policies, plans, etc. and can look them up from here when needed.

Taking advantage of artificial intelligence (AI) technology to promote features such as automatic response, text editing, and pedagogical skills support for local education staff is what those assigned to design the information portal should pay attention to. In addition, equipment is also gradually upgraded and equipped to create favorable conditions for the working environment.

Operating a two-level government, the social and cultural department of the commune People's Committee is responsible for implementing educational tasks. Photo: Public administration center of the People's Committee of Chanh Hung Ward (old District 8), Ho Chi Minh City

Photo: DD

Training and development

Regular and systematic training courses on education management, legal documents in the sector, skills in monitoring school activities, analyzing educational data, accessing advanced models, etc. should be organized for commune-level managers. The Ministry of Education and Training, Departments of Education and Training and pedagogical universities need to coordinate with administrative units to develop short-term and medium-term training programs suitable for non-educational staff who are in charge of this work.

Not only providing theoretical knowledge, the programs should be linked to practice, with hypothetical situations, practice at school, criticism and handling of management situations. When commune-level cadres participating in the training course understand the nature of education and have good practical skills, they will be less confused and more confident in their work.

In addition, principals and vice principals – the “leaders” – should also proactively support and provide information to the staff in charge, to help them have a realistic perspective from the school. The smooth and sincere coordination between the base and the upper management is the key to overall success.

In addition, it is necessary to build a culture of sharing and companionship. Changes in personnel structure after a merger can easily create a feeling of "strangeness", sometimes even "out of sync" between the parties. But instead of being skeptical, discriminating or complaining, we - the people involved - should choose an attitude of sharing and companionship.

If we have a flexible recruitment mechanism, a clear training and development roadmap, fair evaluation and a culture of mutual support, then whoever takes on a management role can complete the task well. At that time, the development of education is no longer the responsibility of the education sector alone, but the result of effective coordination between sectors, levels and the community.

(*) Author: Huynh Thanh Phu, Principal of Bui Thi Xuan High School (Ben Thanh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City). Le Tan Thoi, teacher of Nguyen Dang Son Secondary School, Cho Moi, An Giang

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/can-bo-giao-duc-cap-xa-khong-co-chuyen-mon-giai-phap-go-kho-1852508070947408.htm