This policy shows the determination of the locality, to make the apparatus operate effectively, people must be qualified, capable, and knowledgeable.
However, the issue is not about the number of 100 doctors and masters, but whether studying is substantive or not, whether studying and then working better, with higher quality or not.
This is a serious issue that needs to be carefully considered when issuing a policy to send officials to postgraduate studies.
Because the reality over the years shows that many localities value personnel with master's and doctoral degrees. Meanwhile, the ability to perform official duties, management thinking, and the ability to solve practical problems are ranked behind.
The consequence is that there are cadres with very high academic degrees, but when handling specific tasks, they are confused, avoid responsibility, and even do not grasp the field they are in charge of.
Reality also shows that postgraduate training, especially doctoral training, is not a movement. It must be a process of elite training, associated with research, policy planning, governance and development leadership.
Doctors are not meant to "decorate records", let alone to be products of plagiarism, things that are eroding social trust in academia and the intellectual community.
In the context that the 2-level local government model requires officials to have inter-sectoral thinking, the ability to analyze policies, coordinate resources and make quick and accurate decisions, the requirements for training quality are even stricter.
Sending officials to study is right, but it must come with three clear conditions: choosing the right person, studying in the right place, and using the right job.
If after graduation, they are still arranged against their expertise, or consider the degree as a "travel ticket" for promotion, then that is not investing in development, but wasting budget and opportunities.
I would like to reiterate the words of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the National Conference to thoroughly grasp and implement Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in education and training development on the morning of September 16, 2025: "The mentality of valuing titles in society is still heavy, the policy of using cadres still values degrees more than strength, chasing after degrees".
The Prime Minister's statement is not just a general warning, but a specific requirement for each locality when implementing cadre training programs.
Gia Lai sending 100 officials to study for doctoral and master's degrees will be the right step, if it is an investment in real capacity.
The apparatus is not stronger thanks to many PhDs on paper, but only stronger when each official who graduates will work better, make more correct decisions and take responsibility to the end.
Learning to practice and creating high-quality administrative products, that is the ultimate measure of every training program.
