Lesson 4: "Learning from the people" to determine appropriate policies and guidelines

The phrase "learning from the people" in the Political Report of the Gia Lai Provincial Party Congress is a step forward in leadership thinking - a vivid expression of the spirit of listening and learning from the people, to serve the people.

In the process of innovation in leadership methods, a simple phrase that contains ideological weight has solemnly appeared in the Documents of the 1st Gia Lai Provincial Party Congress (term 2025-2030), which is "learning from the people."

From those two words, a new door opened in the Party's theory and modern leadership thinking.

Issue appropriate policies based on practice

In the Party documents of most provinces and cities in the Central Highlands - Central Coast region, it is affirmed that "relying on the people to build the Party" or commonly mentioned phrases such as "respecting the people, being close to the people, trusting the people, understanding the people".

In the Political Report of the 1st Gia Lai Provincial Party Congress (2025-2030) - the first document after the administrative boundary merger, the phrase "learning from the people" is used solemnly in the section "Tasks of Party building and the political system".

It is a step forward in leadership thinking - a vivid expression of the spirit of listening and learning from the people, to serve the people.

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung, former Secretary of the Gia Lai Provincial Party Committee, commented: “Learning from the people” is a phrase used selectively in the Document. Our Party is a Party of the people, by the people, for the people. All of the Party’s theories are based on practice, coming from practice; that is, drawn from the lives of the people.

“Learning from the people” is to determine appropriate policies and serve the people effectively; bringing people's lives from prosperity to happiness.

In the context of administrative space merger and reorganization, Gia Lai is becoming a concrete model for those thoughts.

Nguyen Tuan Thanh, Standing Vice Chairman of the Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee, said that after streamlining the apparatus, the locality has significantly reduced the number of intermediate levels. Officials are required to be more multi-talented, professional, able to digitize work and access practical data.

Delegates vote to approve the content of the Draft Resolution of the Gia Lai Provincial Party Congress. (Photo: Dinh Quan/VNA)

Each resolution when issued is evaluated by people's feedback, so that the Party can "self-examine - self-correct - self-improve."

Mr. Nguyen Van Quoc (a businessman in An Nhon Dong ward) commented. Different from “relying on the people to build the Party,” “learning from the people” is the establishment of a new step forward: “learning from the people to perfect the Party.” This is not only a manifestation of political modesty, but also a modern leadership mindset - considering the people not only as objects of propaganda, but also as intellectual subjects of innovation.

In general, the inclusion of the concept of “learning from the people” in the document marks an upgrade in leadership theory: from absorbing reflection to co-creating policies, from one-way advocacy to two-way learning.

Associate Professor, Doctor Le Van Dinh, Deputy Director of the Academy of Politics Region III (Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics Region III) said: “The draft document of the 14th National Party Congress has been announced to have new points, demonstrating the strong aspiration of the entire nation to rise up. One of those points is that “the people are the root.” This is one of the principled orientations on the stance that the people are the subject and the center of the innovation process.”

The element of "learning from the people" further affirms the Party's guiding viewpoint that "the people are the root"; contributes to making the Party truly civilized, improving the efficiency and quality of summarizing practices; researching and developing theories and innovation mechanisms, gradually perfecting the theory of innovation policies, in which there are many breakthroughs - Associate Professor, Doctor Le Van Dinh affirmed.

Transparency and accompanying the people

Immediately after merging and implementing the two-level local government model, Head of the Gia Lai Provincial Party Committee's Internal Affairs Committee Dang Vinh Son said that controlling power is a form of "learning from the people" at a higher level.

According to him, "control" is not to tie the hands of those who do the right thing, but to protect good people, to keep power always operating within the institutional framework and the people's hearts.

Localities synchronously implemented the Politburo's regulations on controlling power and preventing and combating corruption and negativity; shifted the focus from "management - supervision" to "early control - prevention", proactively detecting signs of violations early and from afar. This is considered a fundamental shift in the perception and method of Party building and rectification, clearly demonstrating the Party's spirit of self-examination, self-correction and self-admonishment before the people.

Coffee harvest in Ia Grai (Gia Lai). (Photo: Vu Sinh/VNA)

Between the comprehensive leadership role of the Party and the supervisory function of the elected body, the Provincial Party Committee and the People's Council of Dak Lak province have formed a close coordination mechanism; in which the Party guides - the government implements - the People's Council supervises and criticizes. This relationship not only ensures that power operates in the right orbit, but also creates a healthy self-control cycle, helping each decision go through the "filter" of both the organization and the people.

Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairwoman of the People's Council of Dak Lak province Cao Thi Hoa An emphasized: "Controlling power starts with innovating leadership methods and substantive supervision."

The Provincial People's Council has increased the forms of thematic supervision, questioning and explanation. The supervision activities are public, transparent, and linked to the accountability of the leader, helping to regularly examine power, leaving no gaps or forbidden areas.

According to Ms. Cao Thi Hoa An, “when people have the right to question, when officials have to explain, that is how we learn from the people and keep power operating within the framework of trust and institutions.”

From a theoretical perspective, Associate Professor, Dr. Le Van Dinh said: “People are very sympathetic and expectant of the new institutional model. Party committees at all levels must always uphold the role of supervision and inspection; strengthen and tighten Party discipline and order. On that basis, strengthen people's trust in the Party, enhance the position and prestige of the Party...”

When each Party Committee, government and cadre knows how to learn to understand the people and make them trust, it is not only a way to innovate leadership methods but also a journey to create pure and humane power.

Power, when placed in an "institutional cage" and illuminated by the people's hearts, will naturally purify what is inappropriate, so that the Party can become closer to the people, serve the people more effectively, and accompany the people to reach the future./.

(TTXVN/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/bai-4-hoc-dan-de-xac-dinh-duong-loi-chinh-sach-phu-hop-post1073741.vnp