Oil spill response training held in Quang Ninh

Some 200 people from oil exploiting and transporting companies and organisations in the northern province of Quang Ninh were provided with necessary knowledge and skills to respond to oil spills during a training course held in the locality on March 28.

The course was jointly organised by the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment and the Vietnam Maritime Construction Investment Consultancy Joint Stock Company.

Participants were equipped with measures to control oil spills, laws and regulations related to the issue as well as technical measures to clean up oil-contaminated areas and ways to manage environmental pollution after the oil spill.

They also practised collecting oil from the spill in conditions of strong flows and big waves.

There has been no serious oil spill case in Quang Ninh province since the beginning of 2017.

Enhancing skills to prevent and tackle oil spills is necessary for the province as it is a coastal locality with vibrant maritime activities.

Hanoi gets ready for 10th Ministers’ Conference

Plans for the 10th Ministers’ Conference are unfolding without any hitches and the event is set to get underway in the capital city of Hanoi this coming April, says the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance (VCA).

The 10th Cooperative Ministers Conference (April 18-21) is a joint initiative of the Government of Vietnam, the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance (VCA) and the International Cooperative Alliance Asia and Asia Pacific (ICA-AP).

The VCA, the apex organization of the Vietnam cooperative movement promotes the development of cooperatives and the cooperative economy, supports policy formulation around the cooperative sector, and represents the rights of members in a range of sectors including agriculture, trade, industry, and construction among others.

In Vietnam, the first cooperative was set up in 1940s as the iconic President of Vietnam Ho Chi Minh- a believer in cooperative ideology felt it is the only business structure to help the farmers, handicraftsmen and labourers to developing economically.

The theme for the 10th Asia Pacific Co-operative Ministers’ conference is: ‘Vision Ahead of 2020-Stakeholders in realizing the sustainable development goals.’ The conference will aim to highlight the ways in which cooperatives are contributing in achieving the SDGS; explore ways to strengthen partnerships between Governments and Co-operative Stakeholders; and draw a road map to realize the potential of cooperative in sustainable development.

Death penalty upheld for drug ring members

The Hanoi People’s Court has upheld the death sentence given to the ringleader and eight other members of a drug ring at an appeal trial in the northern province of Bac Ninh from March 22-24.  

The court also maintained the life imprisonment sentence on two others while handing down the capital punishment to one defendant instead of the original life imprisonment.

The Bac Ninh People’s Procuracy appealed against the life imprisonment for Luong Thi Thao as she had been proven to involve in the transaction of 1,526 heroin bricks.

Trang A Tang (alias Tang Keangnam) and his 11-member ring including Trang’s wife Giang Thi Sua, were convicted at a first-instance trial of the Bac Ninh People’s Court in late September 2016 for trafficking 1,791 heroin bricks and 553 drug pills. 

According to the indictment, at about 1pm of July 26, 2013, police tried to stop two cars driven by Trang A Tang and Giang Thi Sua for check in Vo Cuong ward of Bac Ninh city, but they didn’t obey. Police chased and stopped the cars in Song Khe commune of Bac Giang city.    

Up to 265 heroin bricks (weighing 91.76kg) and 553 methamphetamine pills (weighing 51.5 grams) were found in the cars.    

Investigation results show that Trang A Tang masterminded the ring which trafficked drugs from Laos to Bac Giang province via Son La.    

Tang bought drugs from some Mong ethnic people in Laos and Thailand and hid the narcotics at the house of his father, Trang A Chu. The drugs were then sold to Luong Thi Thao in Bac Giang and others, according to the indictment.

Former shareholder of Dai Tin bank faces criminal proceeding

Phan's house

The police department for combating corruption and economic crime started criminal proceeding against Hua Thi Phan, a former shareholder of the Dai Tin bank, now the Vietnam Construction Bank (VNCB), and searched her house and office on March 24.

Previously, at a trial for the losses of over 9 trillion VND (404 million USD) at the VCNB, the court decided to launch criminal proceeding against Phan for “violating the lending regulations of credit institutions”, and “deliberately violating State regulations on economic management causing severe consequences”.

She later appealed against the ruling, but the court rejected the appeal.

Phan was accused of wrongdoings that resulted in a negative 2.8 trillion VND (112.89 million USD) in owner's equity and cumulative losses of over 6.6 trillion VND (290.4 million USD) at the Dai Tin bank before it was sold to VNCB ex-Chairman Pham Cong Danh.

The criminal proceeding against Phan is considered the second stage of the VNCB case. 

Two other former managers of Dai Tin bank, former chairman Hoang Van Toan and former CEO Tran Son Nam, were also arrested in January in the VNCB’s second stage.

Int’l tours popular at tourism fair

Hundreds of discounted tours have been sold at the HCM City Tourism Fair, which wrapped up on Sunday, with bookings for international tours accounting for more than 70 per cent of sales, according to tour operators.

A representative from TransViet Travel said 80 per cent of customers booked international tours, with prices starting at VNĐ9 million (US$395), at the company’s booth on the first day of the four-day fair.

Tours to Japan and South Korea accounted for 50 per cent of bookings, followed by China, Taiwan and other destinations in Southeast Asia.

Around 800 visitors booked tours at Saigontourist on the first day of the event.

Domestic tours with discounts of up to 50 per cent were also fully booked on the first day.

Trần Thị Kim Huyền, 57, from Bình Tân District bought a three-day tour to Phú Quốc Island at Saigontourist for two people at a cost of VNĐ2.7 million (US$118), down from the normal price of VNĐ5.6 million (US$245).

“It’s a really good price,” she said.

Besides the Phú Quốc tour, she is also looking for deals to China.

“My husband and I haven’t yet travelled abroad so we want to buy an international tour at a reasonable price,” Huyền said.

Bến Thành Tourist sold more than 100 tours on the first day. Only 20-30 per cent of bookings were for domestic tours to Phú Quốc, Đà Nẵng and Hạ Long.

Nguyễn Thị Tuyết Mai, marketing and communications manager at Bến Thành Tourist, said the company offered discounts and promotions valued at VNĐ350 million (US$15,350) at the fair.

Tours to Japan for four to five days cost only VNĐ30 million (US$1,300), much lower than normal prices, Mai said.

Almost all international tours saw prices fall by 10-20 per cent compared to five years ago, she said.

Prices of international tours are considered "competitive" compared to domestic tours.

Most tour operators attributed the slump in sales of domestic tours to rising prices, particularly during public holidays.

The annual event held by the HCM City’s Department of Tourism attracted more than 70 tour operators, hotels, restaurants, airlines and provincial tourism agencies with 180 booths.

It aimed to create opportunities for local people to access promotion programmes in leisure travel as well as stimulate tourism demand.

Lê Thân, director of Tourism Promotion Centre in Bình Thuận Province, said that the fair is a great opportunity to introduce the province’s tourist destinations to travellers in HCM City. 

Vietnam jails whistleblower linked to bribery case

A court in Vietnam's Central Highlands has sentenced a Vietnamese man to four and a half years in jail for “giving bribes” in a corruption case that he himself had exposed, local media reported.

Tran Minh Loi, 49, was found guilty along with five people for "giving bribes" to the police in Dak Nong Province in exchange for the release of several gamblers a year ago, Thanh Nien newspaper said.

The People's Court in Dak Nong opened the hearing on March 22 against Loi and another seven people, including a policeman in Dak Mil District and a bank executive.  

Police in Dak Mil District arrested six people for gambling in January last year.

Lanh Thanh Binh, a Dak Mil police officer, suggested that the gamblers would be released if they agreed to give him and two other officers some money, Thanh Nien said.

One of the gamblers told his family about the solicitation and they told Loi, who is known by many in his province as an active whistleblower, using his Facebook page “Diet giac noi xam” (Destroying domestic invaders) to upload video clips as evidence of corruption by local officials and police.

Loi advised them to have a meeting with Binh. They secretly recorded and filmed the meeting, where the officer received VND60 million (US$2,640).

With the evidence, Loi filed complaints against three officers. Binh was arrested while the other two were suspended.

Several relatives of the gamblers were also arrested on charges of “giving bribes”.

The court gave Binh one-and-a-half-year suspended sentence for abuse of power.

At the trial, the judge panel did not believe Loi’s argument that his involvement was only to expose corruption. It said Loi had used the evidence to threaten Binh first, Vietnam News Agency reported.

In the same hearing, the court found Loi guilty for giving bribes to a bank executive in Dak Lak Province to get access to a soft loan in April 2014.  

Before his arrest, Loi had collected evidence of corruption by provincial government officials and police.

Thanks to his work, dozens of police officers have been disciplined.

Vietnam attends international cultural week in Mexico

Vietnamese Ambassador to Mexico Le Linh Lan and ambassadors from Thailand, the Philippines and Thailand cut the ribbon to inaugurate a photo exhibition on ASEAN member states’ people and culture during the Naucalpan 2017 international cultural week, which was held in Mexico from March 24-26.

Vietnam’s space at the exhibition featuring the country’s stunning landscapes and the well-known traditional Ao Dai received great attention from international friends. Art performances and traditional cuisine of ASEAN countries also wowed the visitors.

In his opening remarks, director of the Naucalli cultural institute and park Juan Jose Vicencio Estrada highlighted that the event, annually held by the institute, aims to enhance understanding and tighten relations between Mexico and foreign nations.

Meanwhile, Indonesian Ambassador to Mexico Yusra Khan, who holds the rotary chair of the ASEAN committee in Mexico, spoke highly of the cultural week, saying that it offers opportunities to foster cultural exchange, popularise ASEAN states’ image as well as lift up the friendship and cooperation between the bloc and Mexico.

The Ambassador also laid stress on ASEAN’s significant role in the Southeast Asian region, given that the establishment of the bloc helps member states promote integration and collaboration to cope with challenges, especially non-traditional security issue.

Vietnamese pagodas in Thailand help connect two cultures

The presence of 21 Vietnamese pagodas in Thailand has demonstrated the two nations’ cultural interaction, thus helping promote the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership.

Most Venerable Thich Kinh Chieu, head monk at Pho Phuoc pagoda, who led a visiting delegation of 50 Annam Kiya Buddhists and overseas Vietnamese in Thailand, made the remark at a meeting with President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan in Hanoi on March 27.

The monk said the 21 Vietnamese pagodas were built in eight cities and provinces across Thailand, receiving due attention from Thai kings.

Apart from ritual and spiritual activities, the pagodas also open classes to teach Vietnamese for expatriates, he added.

Eight pagodas have been attached with the plates bearing Vietnamese names, which aims to introduce visitors the origin of the pagodas as well as the Vietnamese cultural vitality in Thailand, he noted.

The pagodas also help strengthen the solidarity of the Vietnamese community in Thailand, which now numbers 100,000, and educate young generations about the national unique culture, he said.

Nhan expressed his pleasure to receive the delegation and recognised the Buddhists’ significant contributions to developing the Vietnamese Buddhism over the past 200 years in Thailand.

The head monks at 21 Vietnamese pagodas in Thailand are the symbol of connection between the two countries, he said, hoping that all the pagodas will bear Vietnamese names.

The same day, the delegation visited the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha and the Thai Embassy in Vietnam.

Lao army officers get doctorate degrees

Two officers from Laos’ Kaysone Phomvihane Defence Academy under the Laos People’s Army have received doctorate degrees under the training programme of the Vietnam Academy of Defence (VNAD).  

The awardees were senior lieutenant-colonel Thomdam Sengsoulichanh and senior lieutenant-colonel Khamsone Keobuonpanh.

The March 27 ceremony saw the presence of VNAD Director Major General Tran Viet Khoa and Director of the Lao academy Colonel Keosouphan Inthavongsa.

Speaking at the event, Major General Nguyen Van Hanh, head of the VNAD’s Department of Training, hailed the efforts made by the two Lao officers in fulfilling the training course.

Over the past years, VNAD has helped train high-quality human resources for the Lao People’s Army in general and the Kaysone Phomvihane Defence Academy in particular.

Many graduates from VNAD are holding high-ranking positions in the Lao army while others are studying and teaching at the academy.

Vietnamese students show off talent in China

Twenty Vietnamese students in China participated in a beauty – talent contest held at the Beijing Language and Culture University in Beijing on March 23.

The contest, held by Vietnamese Students Association in China for the first time, was one of events celebrating the 67th anniversary of Vietnam – China diplomatic relations and responding to Vietnam Youth Month. 

It aimed to honour appearance and intelligence beauty of Vietnamese students, thus promoting their images as dynamic, confident, talented and creative students, said Vietnamese ambassador to China Dang Minh Khoi.

It served as a forum for students to meet with each other while strengthening solidarity among Vietnamese students in Beijing and boosting friendly relations between Vietnamese and international students.

Visitors to the event were impressed by contestants’ performances which featured their characteristics, talent and beauty.

They also enjoyed traditional performances by students from China and Southeast Asian countries.

VOV, Vietnam Airlines cooperate in news reporting

Leaders of the Voice of Vietnam (VOV) and Vietnam Airlines met in Hanoi on March 27 to outline cooperative contents between the two agencies in the time ahead.

During the meeting, both sides have committed to cooperating in news reporting and elevating the image of the two agencies in the eye of the public, local and foreign clients.  

VOV President Nguyen The Ky said VOV has faced a number of challenges and fierce competition from other media outlets in securing its market share, noting that VOV has developed a long-term strategy to operate effectively and train a highly qualified staff.

Mr Ky said with advantages of different media forms such as radio and television broadcasting, and print and online newspapers, VOV wants to enhance long-term and comprehensive cooperation with Vietnam Airlines, especially in introducing the image of the national flag carrier to both local and foreign clients.  

vov, vietnam airlines cooperate in news reporting  hinh 1 Duong Chi Thanh, general director of Vietnam Airlines highlighted the initiative of VOV in promoting and strengthening bilateral cooperation to further promote its brand to the public in the most efficient manner.  

Both sides have committed to working out specific cooperative contents in the time ahead with a focus on clients from inside the country and overseas.

Khanh Hoa develops rural areas

The south central coastal province of Khanh Hoa will mobilise over 3.1 trillion VND (136 million USD) for rural development. 

The money will be mainly sourced from the State budget as part of a plan promulgated by the provincial People’s Committee to implement the national target programme on building new-style rural areas between 2017 and 2020.

The locality strives to have nearly 62 percent of communes meeting the programme’s criteria by 2020.

It aims to ensure the development harmony between rural and urban areas by developing new residential areas and upgrading the existing ones.

Local authorities prioritise investments in transport infrastructure, irrigation network, medical stations, and schools for 20 communes in the mountainous districts of Khanh Son and Khanh Vinh.

Such fundamental criteria as roads, electricity, and rural markets will receive attention as well.

The province will also focus on developing production and agricultural restructuring as well as shifting rural economic structure to improve local income.

At the end of 2016, Khanh Hoa has 26 out of the 94 communes recognised as new-style rural areas.

Vietnamese expats in Hungary pay tribute to fallen soldiers

A requiem for fallen soldiers who sacrificed their lives to protect the country’s sea and islands sovereignty was recently held in Budapest, Hungary.

At the ceremony, overseas Vietnamese (OVs) recalled the heroic sacrifices of the martyrs, including the 64 soldiers killed while protecting Gac Ma (Johnson South) Reef in Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago on March 14, 1988.

Trinh Tuan Anh, representative of the organising board, said that the requiem is part of the activities to express gratitude and respect for the soldiers who lied down for the national sea and islands.

Communist youth union anniversary marked in Russia

Vietnamese youths in Russia celebrated the 86th founding anniversary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (March 26, 1931) at the Hanoi-Moscow Complex (Incentra), Moscow on March 26.

Speaking at the meeting, Le Anh Duy, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Delegation to the Russia Federation, gave a brief overview of the union’s activities in 2016, saying it successfully held the cultural exchange performances with the Leninist Komsomol and launched a donation campaign to aid flood-affected people in Vietnam.

Anh thanked the Vietnamese Embassy to Russia, the Overseas Party Committee and other Vietnamese associations in Russia for their support to the union last year and expressed his hope for more assistance in the future.

Pham Duc Vinh, Deputy Secretary of the Overseas Party Committee in Russia, reaffirmed that the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union is a helpful arm of the Communist Party of Vietnam. He lauded the accomplishment of the union in the past and urged the union’s members to continue learning to improve themselves.

Outstanding individuals and organisations who greatly contributed to the union’s operation were honoured during the event.

Renowned Vietnamese monk commemorated in Laos

Vietnamese people in Laos paid homage to Most Venerable Thich Trung Quan, one of the greatest overseas Vietnamese monks, at a ceremony at Bang Long Pagoda in Vientiane on March 26.

The memorial service at Bang Long Pagoda – the centre of Vietnamese Buddhism in Laos – was attended by Most Venerable Thich Thanh Dam and Thich Quang Tung from the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Ba Hung, Lao monks, and Vietnamese expatriates.

Addressing the event, Most Venerable Thich Tho Lac, the fifth leader of Bang Long, said the pagoda was built in 1942 by Vietnamese people. Thich Trung Quang was the fourth leader of the pagoda and also the first person to disseminate the Mahayana Buddhism in Laos. He also had great influence on Vietnamese Buddhists in Europe.

Thich Trung Quan (real name Vu Thanh Quat) was born on June 9, 1918, in Nam Dinh province. From 1969 to 1978, he opened many training courses on Buddhism at Bang Long while building and being the spiritual leader of about 10 pagodas across Laos. The pagoda became a destination for a number of people during that time, thus becoming the centre of Vietnamese Buddhism in Laos

In mid-1978, Most Venerable Thich Trung Quan left for Europe to popularise the Mahayana Buddhism and establish Hoa Nghiem Pagoda in Paris, France. He also set up many other Buddhist temples in other European countries.

He also spent time on translating and writing books on Buddhism with more than 20 publications in total. He passed away on April 1, 2003.

Also at the ceremony, representatives of Bang Long Pagoda presented gifts to disadvantaged Vietnamese and Lao students who had good academic results in Laos.

Quang Binh promotes tourism in Hanoi

The central province of Quang Binh and the capital city of Hanoi co-organised a conference in Hanoi on March 25 to promote tourism connectivity.

The event shapes part of the programme “Quang Binh in the heart of Hanoi” held from March 25-27.

It created a good chance for Quang Binh to introduce its culture and strengths to draw more domestic and international visitors via Hanoi, Vice chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Tran Tien Dung said.

The conference also enabled the two sides’ businesses to seek partners, he added, calling on businesses and investors, especially those from Hanoi and northern localities, to attract more visitors to Quang Binh.

New air routes between Dong Hoi and Cat Bi (Hai Phong), and Dong Hoi-Chiang Mai (Thailand) were introduced at the event.

A number of Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) were signed at the conference, including a MoU on developing Quang Binh-Hanoi tourism cooperation for the 2017-2020 period, and another inked between Quang Binh and Hanoi tourism associations, and Quang Binh Tourism Information and Promotion Center and UNESCO Hanoi Travel Club.

Later on the day, a programme “Quang Binh in the heart of Ha Noi” was launched in Ly Thai To garden, re-enacting part of Quang Binh, especially its famous caves, right in Hanoi’s walking street. 

Quang Binh boasts rich tourism resources in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. It is home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park and the world’s largest cave Son Doong.

The province also has the longest coastline in Vietnam with beautiful beaches and special seafood dishes, and it is chosen as one of the filming destinations of the movie “Kong: Skull Island” – which is expected to bring great benefits to the local tourism.

It is preserving valuable tangible and intangible cultural values such as “ca tru” (ceremonial singing), and “ho khoan” (a genre of Vietnamese folk music in Le Thuy district).

Workshop reviews integration of policies on poverty reduction

A workshop was held in the northern mountainous province of Son La on March 24 to review the integration of policies on poverty reduction from 2015 – 2016 and set plans for 2017 – 2020.

The event was jointly organised by the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs, the United Nations Development Programme and the Embassy of Ireland in Vietnam.

The workshop highlighted the suitability in integrating policies on poverty reduction in 2016-2020, saying the move helped harmonise mechanisms and synchronise the application process as well as make it easy for local officials, especially those at the grassroots level, to refer to and implement policies.

The integration of policies at the central level also helped reduce overlapping, wasterfulness and increase the effective use of stage budget at local levels.

However, participants pointed out shortcomings in integrating policies on poverty reduction. 

At the event, the Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs and several localities called on the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs to discuss with the Committee when they develop policies related to disadvantaged areas.

Hoang Thi Ha from the Social Policy Bank said policies on credit should be integrated into policies on encouraging agricultural production, while Nguyen Thanh Thuy, Deputy Director of the Hoa Binh provincial Department of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs, suggested integrating with local related policies.

Participants agreed that policies on poverty reduction should be based on beneficiaries, localities, and benefited time to enhance access for the poor.

Reviewing and amending are needed to avoid overlapping among policies, thus bettering multi-dimentional access to social services.

Computing education programme to support the blind

The programme on computing education for people with vision impaired was launched at the talking book library for the blind at 18B Dinh Tien Hoang Street, HCM City, on March 25.

The programme was supported by Microsoft Vietnam and the talking book charity fund to teach the blind how to use computers and access the Internet, the huge source of information. It aims to help develop the capabilities of the blind and prepare them for computing career opportunities.

The project will be carried out for a year and each course will be run in three months with 15 students.

Its curriculum was designed by a group of people with vision impaired under consultation from Microsoft Vietnam staff while all ten lecturers are also the blind with university degrees.

Director of the talking book library Nguyen Huong Duong said the programme is expected to not only benefit the attending blind but also inspire the blind community to study information technology for social integration.

Microsoft Vietnam hopes that it will open up more opportunities for people with impaired vision and help them improve their life quality, Director of Legal and Corporate Affairs Pham Khoa said, adding that if successful, the project will be scaled up across the country.

During the launching event, the Tan Nam Do Trading Co. Ltd donated 30 computers to the talking book library and Vietnam Foundation presented the library with 77 computers with no screen for the blind.

Quang Nam province launches key traffic projects

The central province officially launched the Giao Thuy Bridge--one of the key projects connecting mountainous areas with the provincial centre and Da Nang City - on the occasion of the province’s Liberation Day (March 24).

Dang Ba Du, head of the province’s investment projects management board, said the four-lane bridge, which began construction in 2015 with a total investment of 823 billion VND (36.4 million USD), will help link mountainous districts of Nong Son, Que Son, rural Duy Xuyen district in Quang Nam and Da Nang City.

The 1km long concrete bridge will help vehicles travel safely and move efficiently between two provincial roads – DT609 and DT610 – crossing over the Thu Bon River.

Du called it one of the most important projects boosting socio-economic development and eco-tourism in the poverty-stricken mountainous districts.

“The bridge provides a shortcut from Da Nang to Duy Xuyen district and mountainous areas in Quang Nam province. It also puts an end to the operation of dangerous ferry travel among communities during flood season,” Du said.

He said the bridge will links the UNESCO-recognised heritage My Son Sanctuary in Duy Xuyen district with ancient Hoi An city and destinations in Da Nang, Hue city and neighbouring provinces of Quang Binh and Quang Ngai provinces.

 The province also launched yesterday the 10km rescue and ring road project from Duy Xuyen to Nong Son with total investment of 120 billion VND (5.3 million USD).

The key traffic projects aims to develop eco-tourism sites in Dai Binh and Hon Kem and Da Dung in Nong Son district.

Last year, the province commenced construction on two key projects – the Nam Hoi An Integrated Resort Project, invested by VinaCapital and Gold Yield Enterprises Corporations, and the expansion of the Truong Hai -Chu Lai Mechanical Automobile Industrial Zone, with initial capital of 535.3 million USD.

The province, home to world heritage sites – Hoi An, My Son sanctuary and Cham Island biosphere reserve, has attracted 110 tourism projects since 1997.

Democratic regulations in education system needs stricter supervision

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has urged the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) to strengthen its supervision of the implementation of democratic regulations in the educational system. 

At a conference in Hanoi on March 24, Deputy PM Dam said enforcing democratic regulations at schools and educational institutions plays a particularly important role in the comprehensive and fundamental reform of the educational sector.

The supervision needs to be specific, Dam said, adding that teachers have the right to evaluate the management in a democratic manner through secret ballot while students are allowed to evaluate their teachers’ competence at classes.

The Deputy PM also requested that State management agencies and educational leaders at all levels strengthen their role in implementing democratic regulations at schools.

MoET and the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs are urged to issue joint documents, requesting schools and educational institutions to report their regulations to relevant bodies. The regulations must be developed based on opinions of all teaching and managing staff at the school, approved by the School Board and made public.

Participants shared the view that it’s necessary to establish School Boards at educational institutions to effectively implement the democratic regulations.

However, only 16 out of 38 universities under the MoET have established their School Boards. The structure of those boards is not really appropriate, with the functions and tasks of the Board’s Chairman, the Dean and the Secretary of the school’s Party Committee overlapping.  

According to the MoET, there are nearly 1.4 million teachers and educational managers, 22 million students and 44,968 educational institutions from pre-school to tertiary levels.

Better institutions needed to fight corruption in judiciary

Improving legal institutions on corruption prevention and control in judiciary activities to ensure business benefits in Vietnam was the focus of discussions at a workshop in Hanoi on March 24.

The workshop was co-organised by the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Internal Affairs and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Vo Van Dung, deputy head of the commission, said as the country is sparing no efforts to speed up international economic integration, create a healthy business environment and improve national competitiveness, preventing and fighting corruption and negative phenomena in judiciary activities of courts have become more important and is a key task in juridical reform.

Negative phenomena might pose obstacles, result in costs and deprive enterprises of business opportunities, Dung noted.

According to the official, civil, economic and labour disputes among enterprises and between enterprises and organisations and individuals, especially disputes with foreign entities, will increase amidst international economic integration, requiring effective anti-corruption measures in judiciary activities.

UNDP Vietnam Assistant Country Director Dennis Curry said transparency is an important and invariable factor in fighting corruption. He also pointed to the need to build a strong and clear legal framework, avoid legal loopholes and apply technology.

Nguyen Tuan Anh, Deputy Director of the Governmental Inspectorate’s Legal Department, said one of the solutions to perfect legal institutions on anti-corruption is to complete a code of conducts for judges and staff in the court sector.

VNA/VNS/VOV/SGT/SGGP/TT/TN/Dantri/VNE