The impact of a competition

(Baonghean) - Vinh City is experiencing scorching heat these days, but the auditorium of the Provincial Political School is still packed with spectators cheering on the "Young Civil Servants and Public Service Performance" competition (held from May 18-20). The competition is not just about the contestants' performances, their outstanding presentations, and the applause they receive, but more importantly, about its widespread impact.

Of the three mandatory competition sections (knowledge test, skit, and presentation) for the "Young Officials and Public Service" contest, the skit section left the deepest impression on the audience. The stories and situations, which are very real and frequently occur in agencies and units throughout the province, were vividly and profoundly dramatized on stage. This is "Stories from the 'Office' Cafe" by Nghe An Newspaper, reflecting on officials and civil servants who skip work to sit and chat in cafes; when called by superiors, they claim to be out gathering information; when citizens call to inquire about the processing of their documents and procedures, they say they are attending a meeting in the province, with the excuse that "if the people need something but there is no 'mechanism' yet, then officials are not in a hurry." Beyond highlighting the phenomenon, the short story from Nghe An Newspaper also offers radical solutions for rectifying public service ethics: recruitment of officials must be transparent and objective; and strict disciplinary action must be taken against officials who constantly say "yes, yes" but often neglect their duties.

The skit "Internal Affairs God 2013" by the Provincial Political School addressed shortcomings in civil service examinations, recruitment of officials, and policies for attracting talent and retaining talent. Nguyen Anh Tuan, a lecturer in the State and Law Department of the Provincial Political School, playing the role of "Internal Affairs God," shared: "The main reason for the deviation of officials and civil servants from public service ethics is related to living conditions. Currently, civil servants' salaries are too low, insufficient to ensure a decent standard of living, while their work is arduous and stressful. Through this skit, we want to send a message to everyone: Trust us and share our concerns!"

Besides reflecting the "bad habits and flaws" of young officials and civil servants in the performance of their duties, there are also many short plays praising good qualities, unwavering character, and a spirit of always serving the collective and the people. These include stories about how money can compromise fairness and impartiality in the adjudication of cases by a judge; and about market management officials who do not turn a blind eye to the "tricks" of traders selling counterfeit helmets, smuggled goods, and substandard products.

The skit performance by Nghe An Newspaper at the competition.

Equally engaging were the compelling presentations from units on public service performance, public service ethics, administrative reform, etc. Besides presenting arguments, evidence, and theoretical knowledge about administrative reform and public service performance, the units also related these to their practical work situations, proposing solutions and measures for practicing thrift, combating waste; workplace culture; and administrative reform.

Watching the competition, every audience member was satisfied with every detail and every story. They were satisfied because it comprehensively reflected all aspects of implementing the code of conduct in administrative agencies. Mr. Nguyen Xuan Lam, from Hung Binh ward (Vinh City), happily said: “The competition was great! I only came to watch for fun, but I didn't expect it to be so meaningful. Through this, we truly understand and empathize with those who are considered ‘public servants’ more.”

Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh, Secretary of the Youth Union of the Provincial Agencies Bloc and Head of the Organizing Committee of the competition, enthusiastically stated: “The atmosphere of the competition was very lively; the preparations were very thorough. The competition demonstrated the understanding, spirit, and responsibility of officials and employees in performing their duties and in workplace etiquette. We hope that, from this competition, each participant, each official and employee, will reflect on themselves to better understand themselves, to promote their strengths and improve on areas where they need improvement, in order to serve the people even better, as intended by the competition.”

The competition truly created a vibrant atmosphere, fostering sharing and collaboration among colleagues, contributing to the education, dissemination, and enhancement of awareness and responsibility among young officials and civil servants in fulfilling their political duties at their respective agencies and units. Through this, it widely disseminated information about the Law on Officials and Civil Servants and the Law on Public Employees among officials and civil servants. Simultaneously, it aimed to gather new ideas and effective solutions to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of state management, and gradually rectify the ethical conduct of young officials in performing their duties.

After two days of lively competition, last night (May 20th) the organizing committee awarded prizes to the teams that performed excellently in the various events. The first prize went to the Procuratorate, while the second prizes were shared by: Nghe An Newspaper, the Provincial Radio and Television Station, and the Department of Finance. Outstanding skits and presentations were performed on the evening of May 20th.

Text and photos: THANH PHUC