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Avoid short-term thinking.

GD&TĐ - The draft regulations for primary, secondary, and high schools by the Ministry of Education and Training propose that school principals should not serve more than two consecutive terms at the same school.

Báo Giáo dục và Thời đạiBáo Giáo dục và Thời đại16/01/2026

This is not a new issue in personnel management, but it is the first time it has been included in the school charter, creating a unified legal basis for its implementation.

First and foremost, it must be affirmed that the regulation limiting terms of office is a step demonstrating a direction for reforming school management. The goal of the policy is not to evaluate whether a principal is performing well or not.

Even if principals perform their duties well, they are still subject to rotation according to general principles. This regulation forces the management team to constantly refresh their thinking and management methods when changing work environments, avoiding the formation of inertia in management.

In practice, when a principal stays with a school for too long, even if they are dedicated and capable, they inevitably become complacent and accustomed to old ways of managing. The school tends to operate by inertia. Innovation then ceases to be an inherent need and becomes an external requirement. Term limits help break this cycle, forcing the management system to adapt and renew its thinking in line with each stage of development.

This regulation also opens up space for succession planning. In reality, many places have shown that a significant number of excellent teachers and capable young administrators lack opportunities for development due to the lack of leadership position changes. When terms of office are clearly defined, planning, training, and utilization of staff will be more proactive. Schools will no longer be dependent on individuals, but will gradually build a management team with depth and continuity.

However, term limits also present challenges that need to be taken seriously. Knowing that rotation is inevitable after two terms, and lacking appropriate evaluation mechanisms, some managers may develop a short-term mindset.

Instead of investing in long-term goals, principals tend to prioritize short-term tasks with easily visible results. Tasks requiring significant effort and time, such as building the school's brand, raising social resources, improving facilities, or enhancing staff quality, risk being overlooked because their effectiveness often extends beyond one or two terms in office.

If left unchecked, short-term thinking will undermine the long-term commitment of leaders. Schools may then experience "changes in leadership but not in quality," even losing opportunities for sustainable and sustainable development. This contradicts the spirit of policy innovation.

To address this risk, term limits need to be placed within a more comprehensive evaluation mechanism. Principals should not only be judged by immediate results, but also by their development direction and the foundation they leave for the institution. Medium- and long-term plans should be considered important criteria in evaluating management personnel. The implementation, maintenance, and development of these directions must be recorded throughout, even after the principal has been transferred.

Furthermore, a clear succession mechanism is needed. The school's development strategy must be continuous and independent of individuals. The new principal is responsible for continuing, adjusting, and developing existing directions, rather than starting from scratch. When succession is ensured, the head of the institution will be confident in investing their efforts in long-term endeavors, even knowing that their time at the institution is limited.

One positive aspect of the draft is the provision for annual feedback from teachers and staff regarding the principal. If implemented effectively, this would be an important channel to help leaders connect more closely with reality, while also creating positive pressure for principals to not only fulfill their term but also create sustainable value for the collective.

Education needs stability, but innovation is indispensable. Limiting the term of office for principals is a sound policy, but it will only be effective when accompanied by appropriate mechanisms for evaluating, succeeding, and utilizing personnel. In that case, rotation will not diminish the dedication of administrators, but will become a driving force for each principal to strive to leave lasting values ​​for the school and for the education sector.

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/tranh-tu-duy-nhiem-ky-post764224.html


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