Decision No. 700/QD-TTg dated April 20, 2026, of the Prime Minister approving the Scheme on strengthening training for cadres and civil servants in communes, wards, and special zones for the 2026-2031 period has established a legal corridor and fundamental solution orientations for standardizing grassroots human resources.

This consistency is further reinforced as the Government promulgated Decree No. 381/2026/ND-CP dated October 2, 2026, raising the public service allowance to 55%, thereby creating a dual leverage that both standardizes capacity and elevates remuneration so that grassroots personnel feel secure in their dedication.

The two-tier local government model is inherently linked to the redefinition of authority, the expansion of decentralization and delegation of authority, and fundamental adjustments to the procedures for receiving and handling work directly with citizens and enterprises.

The findings of a needs assessment survey conducted in 2026 by National Economics University involving 1,566 commune-level professional and operational civil servants revealed that up to 230 individuals were assigned to new job positions, 250 took on new professional tasks, and 298 were assigned additional concurrent duties.

When analyzing causes directly impacting public service performance results, alongside the pressure of heavy workloads, 278 opinions reflected insufficient grasp of professional knowledge, 402 respondents stated that their initial training majors did not truly align with the requirements of their newly assigned positions, 246 cases experienced confusion when handling arising situations, and 219 civil servants expressed the desire for detailed guidance in executing day-to-day operations. Notably, 71.1% of the surveyed civil servants had not participated in any training course related to their current job positions within the past 12 months.

Equipping commune-level civil servants with comprehensive specialized knowledge and skills for new job positions is significant importance to ensuring operational efficiency of two-tier local government model

Addressing this practical competency deficit, Decision No. 700/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister identifies the viewpoint of focusing on equipping professional and operational knowledge and honing public service performance skills to promptly meet the requirements of (new) job positions and the new organizational apparatus. The Scheme thoroughly grasps the motto of "learning what is lacking" and "learning by doing", ensuring the maintenance of normal, uninterrupted operations of grassroots agencies and units.

To definitively resolve specialized bottlenecks for grassroots personnel, the Prime Minister assigned concrete targets for the 2026-2028 period: based on practical conditions, localities must urgently review, compile lists of, and dispatch commune-level cadres and civil servants who do not meet the professional requirements of their (new) job positions to attend training programs for specialized professional knowledge.

The Scheme establishes the milestone that by the end of 2028, 100% of commune-level cadres and civil servants belonging to this specific target group must be sent for training. The training course is designed intensively over a 3-month duration, organized flexibly during or outside office hours, combining in-person and online formats to create maximum convenience for cadres to study while performing their assigned duties.

Decision No. 700/QD-TTg also explicitly stipulates the mechanism for recognizing training outcomes. Commune-level cadres and civil servants, upon completing the course and being granted a certificate of specialized professional training, will be deemed to meet professional qualifications for new job positions, newly assigned tasks, or supplementary tasks, while simultaneously fulfilling requirements under the prescribed job position competency framework.

Executing the tasks assigned by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 700/QD-TTg, the Ministry of Education and Training issued Plan No. 829/KH-BGDDT and Decision No. 2415/QD-BGDDT assigning National Economics University to preside over researching and formulating the training program for specialized professional knowledge for this specific group.

The curriculum is built according to Level 2 competency standards, establishing close linkages between job position requirements and operational outputs. The overall architecture comprises 34 modules with 177 topics conducted over 12 weeks (equivalent to 168 class periods), consisting of 01 shared foundational module on methodologies, skills, and tools for commune-level public duty performance (12 topics, 84 periods) combined with 01 specialized module corresponding to the assigned job position (05 topics, 70 periods), along with course harvesting, defense reports, and assessment examinations. Over 60% of the total duration is allocated to practical exercises, case-file resolution, and digital tool operations.

In tandem with competency standardization measures, on October 2, 2026, the Government issued Decree No. 381/2026/ND-CP regulating the public service allowance scheme for cadres and civil servants in communes, wards, and special zones at an entitlement rate of 55% of the current salary plus leadership position allowances and seniority allowances beyond the grade scale, representing a 30% increase compared to previously, with retroactive effect from July 1, 2026. This priority decision stems from the one-year review results of operating the two-tier local government model, reaffirming the deep concern of the Central Government for the grassroots level where personnel directly shoulder massive workloads and serve the People.

The synchronized combination of capacity-building tasks under Decision No. 700/QD-TTg and practical remuneration policies from Decree No. 381/2026/ND-CP has created a comprehensive leverage across both responsibilities and entitlements.

This process not only fundamentally resolves professional qualifications for personnel placed in new job positions, but also firmly strengthens confidence and work motivation for the commune-level governmental apparatus to operate smoothly, with integrity and professionalism, and effectively serve citizens and enterprises within the two-tier local government model.