Something that shouldn't have happened.
Immediately after Tien Phong Online newspaper published the article "Controversy surrounding the appointment of a principal after school merger in Nghe An" on September 4, 2026, social media in Nghe An became abuzz with discussions and debates surrounding the selection and appointment of the principal of Huu Khuong Ethnic Boarding Primary and Secondary School by the People's Committee of Huu Khuong commune.
Nhat LanSeptember 14, 2026
Immediately after Tien Phong Online newspaper published the article "Controversy surrounding the appointment of a principal after school merger in Nghe An" on September 4, 2026, social media in Nghe An became abuzz with discussions and debates surrounding the selection and appointment of the principal of Huu Khuong Ethnic Boarding Primary and Secondary School by the People's Committee of Huu Khuong commune.
This has led to discussions and debates related to a minor point in the Ministry of Education's guidelines on selecting and appointing management staff after mergers. Specifically, for schools with both primary and secondary levels, in addition to the standard criteria, there is an added recommendation that "priority should be given to the person who was the principal of the secondary school before the merger."
Meanwhile, in Huu Khuong, the two candidates were the principals of primary schools and secondary schools. The primary school principal was chosen and appointed as principal by the Huu Khuong Commune People's Committee, while the secondary school principal took on the role of vice-principal.
And then, based on press reports, the uproar, the controversy, and the suspicions surrounding the alleged "unethical" selection and appointment of the principal by Huu Khuong commune, the province had to intervene. From issuing an "urgent directive" (a term used in the headline of the Tien Phong online newspaper article), the province had to hold another meeting (on September 8, 2026) for leaders to directly hear reports on the appointment process.
I believe that a conclusion will be reached on this matter after some time.
What I want to express here is that upon hearing about this incident, I felt deeply concerned. Concerned because in an educational environment, such an event would make it very difficult to maintain consensus and unity; it would disrupt the morale of teachers, affect the quality of teaching, and damage the positive image of educators. I believe this is something that absolutely should not have happened.
The merger of educational institutions is a major policy of the Party and the State, implemented nationwide, and represents a strategic restructuring of personnel. When two or three schools merge, the number of leadership positions must be streamlined according to regulations. This means that some principals will have to step down to become vice-principals, and some vice-principals will return to teaching positions.
In reality, the recent merger of educational institutions in Nghe An province has shown that many top-ranking officials have proactively resigned, yielding their positions to more capable individuals or transferring power to younger, more dynamic individuals. As Baonghean.vn reported on August 29, 2026,Letters of resignation from leadership positions by teachers in Nghe An."
In my opinion, the choice of stepping back by that administrator does not mean retreat or lowering their self-worth. On the contrary, it is a vivid manifestation of a culture of setting an example. They are individuals who recognize the value of those working in education, who know how to put the collective interest above personal gain, and are willing to "step back" for the common progress of the school.
Their proactive withdrawal also helped resolve internal conflicts of interest, creating consensus and unity among the school's teachers, which became a decisive factor in ensuring the school's stable operation after the merger.
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Currently, local Party committees and authorities at the commune and ward levels must bear full responsibility for the arrangement and merger of school networks, along with the selection and appointment of school administrators.
Personnel management is always a difficult task. In the field of education, personnel management will determine the development of education in the locality. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct personnel screening according to the criteria and standards stipulated and guided by higher authorities and the Ministry of Education.
Furthermore, local Party committees and authorities, with their understanding of the culture, people, and practical capabilities of each education management official in their area, need to select personnel who are truly reputable in their professional field and possess management skills, as well as the ability to unite the school's staff and teachers.
One extremely important task that commune and ward-level Party committees and authorities should not, and cannot, overlook is conducting ideological work with school management staff when implementing mergers. When everything is clear and transparent, and when the mindset is well understood, anxieties about redundant positions will not arise.
Only then will there be a sacrifice of personal ego within the school's management team, a willingness to "step back." And obviously, there will be no uproar or controversy!
