The Politburo and the Secretariat of the Communist Party of Vietnam have directed all localities to urgently coordinate with the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and Training, and the Ministry of Home Affairs to restructure all commune-level public schools and healthcare stations, with a deadline of December 31.

On November 28, Tran Cam Tu, Permanent Member of the Party Central Committee Secretariat, signed the Politburo’s official conclusion on the status and performance of the two-tier political and administrative system at the local level.

The Politburo and Secretariat reviewed and largely approved the November report submitted by the Central Organizing Commission regarding the performance of local Party and government systems.

The leadership commended Party committees, government agencies, the Party delegations of the Government and National Assembly, as well as provincial, municipal, and grassroots Party organizations, for their continued efforts in resolving challenges, offering timely guidance, and maintaining stable and efficient operations at both the provincial and commune levels.

They called on Party organizations, government agencies, and local authorities to implement the Party's directives and resolutions on reforming the two-tier political-administrative system promptly and effectively.

Leaders, including provincial and municipal Party Secretaries and ministers, are required to take direct responsibility for tasks under their jurisdiction. They must conduct field visits, inspect progress, and issue timely instructions to resolve bottlenecks, especially concerning public assets and infrastructure, ensuring quality and on-schedule implementation.

The Secretariat instructed the Government Party Delegation to lead ministries and agencies in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice to urgently review all legal documents by sector and field. The goal is to revise and update regulatory frameworks to eliminate inconsistencies and ensure alignment with the two-tier local government model.

Priority areas include finance and budgeting, land management and planning, administrative reform and digital transformation, science and technology, organizational structures and personnel policies, and public services such as education and healthcare. There is special emphasis on modernizing digital infrastructure, enhancing the capacity of commune-level personnel, and rationalizing staffing based on evolving demands.

The Government Party Delegation has also been tasked with instructing relevant Party organizations at the central level to urgently address specific proposals and issues raised by local authorities and agencies, ensuring completion by the end of 2025. For unresolved issues, clear assignment and timelines must be communicated transparently.

All levels of Party leadership and government are expected to accelerate internal structural reviews and complete the restructuring of public service units in accordance with planned timelines.

Provincial and municipal Party committees are to work closely with the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and Training, and Ministry of Home Affairs to ensure all commune-level public schools - including kindergartens, primary schools, lower secondary schools, and multi-level institutions - alongside commune health clinics, are reorganized and finalized by December 31.

The Central Organizing Commission will continue to lead the coordination with the Ministry of Home Affairs in evaluating the effectiveness of the two-tier political and administrative system. This includes reviewing implementation of personnel strategies, decentralization, reclassification of administrative units, and reporting findings to the Politburo and Secretariat for further guidance.

Tran Thuong