Decision No. 1659/QD-TTg 2019 Scheme on national foreign language learning program for cadres, civil servants

DECISION

Approving the Scheme on “national foreign language
learning program for cadres, civil servants and public employees during 2019-2030”^[1]

THE PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the June 19, 2015 Law on the Organization of the Government;

Pursuant to the November 13, 2008 Law on Cadres and Civil Servants;

Pursuant to the November 15, 2010 Law on Public Employees;

Pursuant to Resolution No. 26-NQ/TW of May 19, 2018, of the 7^thplenum of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (the XII^thCongress), on building a contingent of cadres at all levels, especially those at the strategic level, with adequate qualities, capabilities and prestige meeting their task requirements;

Pursuant to the Government’s Resolution No. 132/NQ-CP of October 24, 2018, promulgating the Government’s plan of action on implementation of Resolution No. 26-NQ/TW of May 19, 2018, of the 7^thplenum of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (the XII^thCongress), on building a contingent of cadres at all levels, especially those at the strategic level, with adequate qualities, capabilities and prestige meeting their task requirements; and the Political Bureau’s Plan No. 10-KH/TW of June 6, 2018, on implementation of Resolution No. 26-NQ/TW;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 101/2017/ND-CP of September 1, 2017, on training and further training of cadres, civil servants and public employees;

At the proposal of the Minister of Home Affairs,

DECIDES:

Article 1.To approve the Scheme on “national foreign language training program for cadres, civil servants and public employees” (below referred to as the Scheme” with the following principal contents:

I. SUBJECTS AND SCOPE OF APPLICATION AND TIME OF IMPLEMENTATION

1. Subjects of application:

a/ Cadres working in state agencies.

b/ Civil servants working in agencies of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the State, and socio-political organizations at the central level; in provinces and centrally run cities (below referred to as provincial-level civil servants); in rural districts, urban districts, towns, provincial cities and municipal cities (below referred to as district-level civil servants), and in communes, wards and townships (below referred to as commune-level civil servants);

c/ Public employees of public non-business units.

2. This Decision does not apply to:

a/ Cadres, civil servants and public employees working in agencies and units of the foreign affairs sector;

b/ Foreign language teachers and lecturers.

3. Time of implementation: from 2019 through 2030.

II. REQUIREMENTS

1. Training and further training to improve foreign language competency of cadres, civil servants and public employees must be in line with the Party’s line and policies, the State’s laws and practical requirements of agencies and units.

2. To qualitatively and efficiently implement foreign language training and further training programs for cadres, civil servants and public employees; to mobilize and bring into full play resources and existing capabilities of lecturers and teachers as well as training institutions.

3. To enhance responsibilities of agencies managing and units employing cadres, civil servants and public employees and cadres, civil servants and public employees themselves in training and further training to improve foreign language competency of cadres, civil servants and public employees.

4. To accelerate foreign language training and further training, and combine studying foreign languages with practicing and regularly and effectively using them in public duty performance.

III. OBJECTIVES

1. General objectives

To promote foreign language training and further training of cadres, civil servants and public employees to improve their competency to meet the prescribed job-title criteria, working positions and competency framework with qualities, capabilities and prestige satisfying their task requirements.

To build a contingent of professional cadres, civil servants and public employees with a rational structure and fluent foreign-language skills in their jobs and international working environment.

2. Specific objectives

a/ By 2025

- To improve training and further training mechanisms and policies to encourage and create conditions for cadres, civil servants and public employees to learn foreign languages and increase their competency to meet the requirements of performing public duties and working in an international environment;

- To compile and complete further training programs and materials to improve foreign language competency of cadres, civil servants and public employees;

- To provide foreign language further training for the contingent of cadres, civil servants and public employees to improve their foreign language competency, striving for the target that by the end of 2025:

+ Fifty percent of cadres and civil servants at the central level (mainly under-40 cadres and civil servants holding a leading or managerial position at division and equivalent or higher level); 25% of cadres and civil servants at provincial and district levels (mainly under-40 cadres and civil servants holding a leading or managerial position at division and equivalent or higher level) will have foreign language proficiency at level 4 or higher;

+ Sixty percent of public employees and 50% of public employees holding a leading or managerial position will have foreign language proficiency at level 4 or higher;

+ Twenty percent of commune-level cadres and civil servants and 15% of commune-level under-40 cadres and civil servants holding a leading or managerial position and working in localities or fields requiring foreign language use will have foreign language proficiency at level 3 or higher.

b/ By 2030

To intensify foreign language further training for the contingent of cadres, civil servants and public employees to improve their competency in both quantity and quality so that by the end of 2030:

- Sixty percent of cadres and civil servants at the central level (mainly under-40 cadres and civil servants holding a leading or managerial position at division and equivalent or higher level); 35% of cadres and civil servants at provincial and district levels (mainly under-40 cadres and civil servants holding a leading or managerial position at division and equivalent or higher level) will have foreign language proficiency at level 4 or higher and in their specialized fields;

+ Seventy percent of public employees and 60% of public employees holding a leading or managerial position will have foreign language proficiency at level 4 or higher and in their specialized fields;

+ Thirty percent of commune-level cadres and civil servants and 25% of commune-level under-40 cadres and civil servants holding a leading or managerial position working in localities or fields requiring foreign language use will have foreign language proficiency at level 3 or higher and in their specialized fields.

IV. TASKS AND SOLUTIONS

1. Increasing communications and awareness of ministries, sectors, localities and the contingent of cadres, civil servants and public employees about the role of and necessity to learn foreign languages and improve foreign language competency to perform public duties and work in an international environment

a/ To thoroughly grasp the Party’s and State’s guidelines on foreign language training and further training for cadres, civil servants and public employees to improve their language competency so as to promote the learning of foreign languages among cadres, civil servants and public employees.

b/ To accelerate communications and education in order to raise the sense of responsibility of cadres, civil servants and public employees, especially the contingent of leaders and managers, in constantly learning foreign languages and improving foreign language proficiency and skills to perform public duties and work in an international environment; to raise the awareness of every person in self-study and self-practice to improve his/her professional qualifications, and update information, knowledge and skills to meet integration requirements.

c/ To encourage the contingent of cadres, civil servants and public employees to actively and proactively take part in foreign language training and further training programs so as to constantly improve their capabilities and competency to work in and adapt to an international working environment.

2. Reviewing and improving mechanisms and policies to help cadres, civil servants and public employees actively learn foreign languages, improve their capabilities to perform public duties and work in an international environment; mobilizing prestigious training institutions to provide foreign language training and further training for cadres, civil servants and public employees

a/ To improve regulations on foreign language proficiency standards for cadres, civil servants and public employees based on job-title criteria, working positions and public-duty performance requirements.

b/ To apply flexible mechanisms to the organization of foreign language training and further training courses and create conditions for agencies managing and units employing cadres, civil servants and public employees and cadres, civil servants and public employees themselves to select appropriate forms and quality contents of training and further training programs.

c/ To facilitate the participation of capable and prestigious training institutions in providing foreign language training and further training for cadres, civil servants and public employees.

d/ To attract and select teachers and lecturers with professional qualifications, pedagogical methods and experiences for foreign language training and further training programs for cadres, civil servants and public employees to help them meet working and international integration requirements.

dd/ To complete regulations on foreign language certificates and validity period of foreign language certificates for  cadres, civil servants and public employees.

3. Reviewing the state of foreign language competency and  proficiency of cadres, civil servants and public employees and summarizing needs of ministries, sectors and localities for foreign language training and further training of their cadres, civil servants and public employees as a basis for making foreign language training and further training plans and organizing foreign language training and further training courses in order to meet the needs and requirements of different groups of trainees, working fields and working positions.

Every year and every five years, ministries, sectors and localities shall review the actual state of and summarize needs for foreign language training and further training of cadres, civil servants and public employees under their respective management to formulate foreign language training and further training plans and organize training and further training for each group of trainees and each training content.

4. Formulating and completing appropriate foreign language training and further training programs; accelerating the implementation of foreign language training and further training programs for cadres, civil servants and public employees to improve their language competency

a/ To formulate and complete foreign language training and further training programs and materials for cadres, civil servants and public employees to meet general requirements and requirements of performing public duties and working in an international environment.

b/ To study and propose specialized foreign language training and further training programs for cadres, civil servants and public employees to satisfy sector-based job requirements.

c/ To diversify foreign language training and further training forms; to accelerate online foreign language training and further training suitable with working conditions and environment of the contingent of cadres, civil servants and public employees.

d/ To develop software and use online training and further training forms to improve foreign language competency for cadres, civil servants and public employees.

5. Inspecting and assessing competency in foreign language training and further training of cadres, civil servants and public employees according to international standard

a/ To regularly organize tests to assess foreign language competency of cadres, civil servants and public employees; to inspect the issuance of foreign language certificates according to Vietnam’s six-level foreign language competency framework and other certificates under foreign language training and further training programs for cadres, civil servants and public employees by training institutions licensed to organize tests and competency assessment.

b/ To organize foreign language tests for and assess foreign language competency of cadres, civil servants and public employees associated with recruitment tests for appointment of holders of leading or managerial positions; to organize rank promotion tests for civil servants and job-title promotion tests for public employees based on their foreign language proficiency, competency and skills in order to meet requirements of public duty performance and international integration.

6. Improving foreign language teaching and learning conditions for cadres, civil servants and public employees to meet international integration requirements

a/ To modernize physical foundations and equipment for foreign language teaching and learning.

b/ To upgrade classrooms and exam rooms for organizing tests and evaluating test results.

c/ To promote the application of information technology in teaching and learning foreign languages; to develop online foreign language learning solutions for cadres, civil servants and public employees.

d/ To develop a contingent of lecturers and teachers for teaching foreign languages for cadres, civil servants and public employees in training and further training institutions to ensure quality and satisfy demands of trainees and sector-based job requirements.

7. Intensifying international cooperation and forming a foreign language learning environment for cadres, civil servants and public employees

a/ To intensify cooperation with domestic and foreign organizations, agencies and units in supporting, collaborating, investing in and providing foreign language training and further training services to cadres, civil servants and public employees.

b/  To coordinate with capable and competent foreign training institutions in organizing foreign language training and further training courses for cadres, civil servants and public employees to meet their job requirements and increase their language proficiency and capability to work in an international environment.

c/ To intensify foreign language training and further training in the country and send cadres, civil servants and public employees to overseas training and further training courses to combine professional knowledge training and further training with the improvement of foreign language competency and skills to work in an international environment.

V. ROADMAP AND FUNDS FOR IMPLEMENTATION

1. Roadmap

a/ The 2019-2020 period: Ministries, sectors and localities shall concentrate efforts on formulating plans to implement the Scheme for their own agencies and units with appropriate objectives, requirements and operation contents. They shall review and complete regulations on foreign language criteria and proficiency for cadres, civil servants and public employees.

b/ The 2021-2025 period: To implement tasks and solutions of the Scheme to achieve set objectives. To expand the participation of the network of capable and prestigious training and further training institutions in the Scheme.

c/ The 2026-2030 period: To carry out activities to fulfill the Scheme’s objectives. To regard foreign language learning as a regular and practical activity to be carried out nationwide in order to improve the quality and efficiency of cadres, civil servants and public employees in public duty performance and working in an international environment.

2. Funding

a/ Funds for developing and implementing the Scheme shall be included in state budget expenditure estimates assigned in accordance with the current regulations on state budget decentralization and come from other lawful financial sources.

b/ Funding sources for foreign language training and further training activities for cadres and civil servants shall be allocated from the state budget according to the current regulations on state budget decentralization; funds of agencies managing and employing cadres and civil servants; contributions by cadres and civil servants; and financial support from domestic and foreign organizations and individuals as prescribed by law.

c/ Funding sources for foreign language training and further training activities for public employees shall be allocated from financial sources of public non-business units (excluding the state budget funds allocated to such units); contributions by public employees and other lawful sources as prescribed by law.

VI. ORGANIZATION OF IMPLEMENTATION

1. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-attached agencies, socio-political organizations at the central level and provincial-level People’s Committees shall:

a/ Formulate their plans and organize the implementation of the Scheme within the ambit of their assigned functions and tasks and in accordance with law.

b/ Review and complete specific regulations on standards for foreign language proficiency of cadres, civil servants and public employees under their management.

c/ Study and propose specialized foreign language training and retraining programs for cadres, civil servants and public employees to meet public duty performance and sector-based job requirements.

d/ Allocate funds and mobilize resources to implement the Scheme’s tasks.

dd/ Examine, evaluate, and preliminarily and finally review the implementation of the Scheme by ministries, sectors, localities and units and send periodical reports thereon to the Ministry of Home Affairs.

2. The Ministry of Home Affairs shall:

a/ Guide the formulation of plans and organize the implementation of the Scheme’s tasks annually and in different periods.

b/ Revise documents on management of training and further training of cadres, civil servants and public employees.

c/ Urge, examine, assess and summarize the implementation results of the Scheme; to make periodical preliminary and final reviews and send reports thereon to the Prime Minister.

d/ Sum up demands of ministries, sectors, related agencies and localities and propose funds for implementation of the Scheme to the Ministry of Finance for appraisal and submission to competent authorities for approval.

3. The Ministry of Education and Training shall:

a/ Review and complete regulations on foreign language certificates and certification of foreign language proficiency equivalence under foreign language training and further training programs for cadres, civil servants and public employees.

b/ Study and propose the compilation of training and further training programs and materials (including online training and further training) to improve foreign language competency for cadres, civil servants and public employees up to international standards to meet general requirements and public duty performance requirements.

c/ Guide regulations on mechanisms and policies for lecturers and teachers involved in foreign language training and further training for cadres, civil servants and public employees.

d/ Expand the network of institutions providing foreign language training and further training for cadres, civil servants and public employees; appraise capabilities of and assign training and further training institutions to provide foreign language training and further training for, evaluate foreign language competency of and issue foreign language certificates to cadres, civil servants and public employees under regulations.

4. The Ministry of Finance shall set aside state budget funds and submit to competent authorities the allocation of funds for the implementation of the Scheme in accordance with law.

5. The Ministry of Information and Communications shall instruct press and news agencies to mobilize all levels and sectors to raise their awareness about and actively and proactively implement the Scheme.

Article 2.This Decision takes effect on the date of its signing.

Article 3.Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government-attached agencies, heads of central agencies, chairpersons of provincial-level People’s Committees, and heads of socio-political organizations at the central level and related agencies shall implement this Decision.-

Prime Minister
NGUYEN XUAN PHUC