As Vietnam undergoes a significant restructuring of its educational institutions, a proposal has emerged advocating for competitive examinations to select school principals. This recommendation comes from Nguyen Van Luc, a former teacher, who emphasizes the critical role of school principals in the educational landscape.

Currently, the country is in the midst of reorganizing its educational network, with a target completion date set for August 30. The restructuring involves two main models: large-scale single-level schools and multi-level schools, with each institution designated to have only one principal instead of maintaining the previous number of principals corresponding to the merged schools.

In Hanoi, specific guidelines and criteria for selecting and appointing principals and vice principals have been established. However, many localities face challenges in personnel arrangement and management. Luc argues that to successfully implement this restructuring, it is essential to have capable leaders at the helm. He stresses that principals must possess vision, decisiveness, and effective management skills.

Luc describes the principal as the "soul" of the school, asserting that selecting the right individual is crucial for the happiness of both teachers and students. To achieve this, he suggests organizing competitive exams for the principal position, which would foster respect among teachers for their leaders, knowing they have been chosen based on merit.

In addition to competitive exams, Luc proposes annual trust votes for principals and vice principals. If a principal or vice principal receives less than 50% support for two consecutive years, they should resign or be dismissed to make way for more deserving candidates.

Supporting this view, Nguyen Thi Viet Nga, Deputy Head of the National Assembly delegation in Hai Phong, emphasizes that the selection of management personnel should be based on their qualities and management capabilities, rather than merely their tenure or previous affiliations. She advocates for a transparent selection process to avoid rivalry and promote unity.

Furthermore, Hoang Ngoc Vinh, a former official from the Ministry of Education and Training, highlights that the success of this restructuring should not be measured solely by the reduction of administrative units or personnel. Instead, the focus should be on improving teaching quality, enhancing teacher effectiveness, and ensuring overall satisfaction among students and parents.

Vinh also calls for the development of a management competency framework for school principals following the mergers, along with mandatory training programs to equip them for the changes ahead. He suggests shifting from traditional administrative management to a modern governance model that increases autonomy and accountability within schools.