A recent debate over criteria for evaluating and filtering commune-level officials following administrative restructuring has drawn numerous reader comments - many arguing that regular university degrees should not be considered equivalent to part-time degrees in Vietnam’s current context.

Formal education seen as key to professionalizing public service

After the merger of administrative units, the selection of commune-level officials plays a decisive role in ensuring effective governance and local stability. Officials must not only possess practical competence, but also a deep understanding of the local context, the ability to listen to citizens, and the capacity to resolve emerging issues.

Choosing the right individuals ensures smooth operations and builds public trust during this transitional period. In contrast, unqualified or negligent officials can hinder policy implementation, waste resources, and stall local development.

In reader comments sent to VietNamNet, many suggested prioritizing candidates with formal university degrees while continuing to assess their actual performance in office.

“An individual’s capability shows through their work, but the starting point should still be education. From there, we monitor, evaluate, and select those with both talent and integrity. Competitive exams remain the fairest approach,” commented reader Thanh Pham.

Many readers highlighted the distinction between theoretical and practical aspects when comparing full-time university degrees and part-time education.

According to reader Nguyen Kien, formally trained officials are more likely to possess scientific thinking and sound theoretical grounding.

“This allows them to better apply theory in real-world scenarios than officials who rely solely on experiential thinking,” Kien argued, noting that those with formal education are often more receptive to innovation.

With years of experience in human resource management, reader Viet Hoa added that formal graduates tend to have a firmer grasp of academic knowledge.

“Most people opt for part-time study only because they couldn't qualify for formal university programs. It’s a shortcut meant to even the playing field,” he remarked.

Many readers also said selecting commune-level officials with formal degrees would help standardize Vietnam’s public service, ensuring consistency from central to local levels.

“Formal education should be the norm for standardization. Part-time programs, frankly, are often superficial and don’t equip officials with the knowledge needed for today’s challenges,” one reader commented.

Prioritizing full-time degrees aligns with current realities

Under the draft revision of the Law on Cadres and Civil Servants, the Ministry of Home Affairs has proposed removing the separate classification of commune-level officials.

It also suggested unifying the management of all civil servants across central and local levels, eliminating the distinction between commune, provincial, and national positions in line with the Party’s policy of integrated personnel management.

Reader Nguyen Khanh An remarked: “In theory, those with part-time degrees are not inferior. But realistically, we can’t treat them as equal.”

He added, “If we look at the big picture, perhaps 70% of those with formal degrees perform well and think critically, but among part-time degree holders, only about 20% meet those standards. So prioritizing formal degrees makes sense.”

While acknowledging that not all part-time graduates are unqualified, the majority of readers argued that a formal university degree should be a mandatory requirement for those seeking leadership roles. This, they said, would help raise the bar for future generations.

Reader Cao Quang blamed the problem on today’s market-oriented education system, where part-time degrees have become easier to obtain. Therefore, they cannot be equated with full-time university credentials.

Still, some readers stressed that degrees are only one aspect and that actual performance must be the main criterion.

“You can have a formal degree and still be out of touch with the people,” commented reader Ngoc Bich.

“Many officials hold master’s or doctoral degrees but only speak in theory. They can't even resolve simple issues in their neighborhoods. That’s why I support choosing leaders based on real performance, regardless of their degree type,” another reader shared.

The Vinh