Decision No. 83/2007/QĐ-TTg Approves the "Training and Capacity Building Program for Officials Engaged in Religious Work and State Management Officials on Religion" for the period 2006-2010.

DECISION

Approving the "Training and Capacity Building Program for Officials Engaged in Religious Work and Civil Servants Managing State Affairs on Religion" for the period 2006-2010

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PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the Government dated December 25, 2001;

Pursuant to Decree No. 91/2003/NĐ-CP dated August 13, 2003 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Governmental Committee for Religious Affairs;

Pursuant to Decision No. 125/2003/QĐ-TTg dated June 18, 2003 of the Prime Minister approving the Action Program of the Government to implement Resolution No. 7 of the Ninth Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam regarding religious work;

Pursuant to Decision No. 161/2003/QĐ-TTg dated August 4, 2003 of the Prime Minister promulgating the Training and Capacity Building Regulations for Officials and Civil Servants;

Considering the proposal of the Chairman of the Governmental Committee for Religious Affairs.

DECISION:

Article 1. Approving the "Training and Capacity Building Program for Officials Engaged in Religious Work and Civil Servants Managing State Affairs on Religion" for the period 2006-2010 with the main contents as follows:

I. Objectives and Targets

1. Objectives:

- Officials and civil servants engaged in state management of religion at central, provincial, and district levels, and specialized or part-time officials engaged in religious work at commune, ward, and town levels;

- Officials engaged in religious work under the Vietnam Fatherland Front and political-social organizations at all levels.

In addition, it includes officials and lecturers responsible for teaching about religion at universities, provincial and district political schools, and vocational schools of political-social organizations.

2. Objective: To equip them with comprehensive knowledge of political theory and state administration according to the standards for officials and civil servants, gradually improving and standardizing the cadre and civil servant workforce according to each position within state administrative agencies, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, political organizations, political-social organizations, and political schools at all levels regarding religious activities, creating fundamental changes in their understanding of religion and knowledge, skills, and professional practices in religious work; particularly in ethnic minority areas and regions where new religious issues have emerged, enhancing their professional capacity, political resolve, and ability to build and implement policies and laws on religion, meeting current and long-term requirements and tasks.

II. Main Tasks

1. Implementing training and capacity building content that meets the requirements of rank and position according to the programs prescribed by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the National Academy of Political Administration and Public Administration under Ho Chi Minh City; simultaneously implementing training and capacity building content on religion and religious work according to the programs of the National Academy of Political Administration and Public Administration under Ho Chi Minh City and the Governmental Committee for Religious Affairs.

2. Based on the criteria for each position of officials and civil servants in the field of state management of religion, implementing the training and capacity building program plan of this project.

3. Completing the system of training and capacity building programs and materials; implementing reforms in the content, form, and methods of training and capacity building for the cadre and civil servant workforce engaged in religious work.

4. During the period 2006-2010, the training and capacity building of the cadre and civil servant workforce engaged in religious work aims to achieve the following targets: conducting capacity building for 21,811 individuals, belonging to the two main categories mentioned in this Article.

a) Regarding training:

- Ensuring 100% of those recruited through competitive examinations receive pre-service training and 100% of officials and civil servants in the field of state management of religion at the provincial and district levels and the Governmental Committee for Religious Affairs receive specialized training in political theory on religion;

- Conducting training for 15-20% of incumbent department-level leaders, heads, and deputy heads of provincial religious committees (referred to as provincial level), and equivalent positions within the Governmental Committee for Religious Affairs to become bachelor graduates in political science specializing in religion;

- Ensuring 100% of department-level leaders and equivalent positions receive training in state administration (position-based training programs); planning and training leading experts in state management of religion.

b) Regarding capacity building:

- Striving to ensure 100% of civil servants in the ranks of clerk, senior clerk, and chief clerk within the Governmental Committee for Religious Affairs receive training in state administration according to their rank and position;

- Conducting annual capacity building for 100% of department-level leaders and heads and deputy heads of provincial religious committees in leadership and management skills specific to religion; 100% of officials managing state affairs on religion at the provincial and district levels, and specialized or part-time officials engaged in religious work at commune, ward, and town levels receive capacity building in professional knowledge and skills in religious work;

- Ensuring 100% of central and provincial-level officials; 100% of district-level officials and officials engaged in religious work under the Vietnam Fatherland Front and political-social organizations at all levels receive capacity building in religion and mobilization work among religious people;

- Ensuring 100% of lecturers teaching about religion receive capacity building in religion and religious work.

5. Strengthening and consolidating the Research and Capacity Building Center for Religious Work of the Governmental Committee for Religious Affairs to meet the objectives and tasks of training and capacity building for the cadre and civil servant workforce engaged in religious work during the period 2006-2010. Developing a proposal to upgrade the Research and Capacity Building Center for Religious Work into a Vocational School for Religious Work to align with the re-planning of the national network of training and capacity building institutions and to meet the need to equip knowledge for cadres working in the special field of religion. Organizing classes for training and capacity building of officials and civil servants managing state affairs on religion.

6. Establishing and perfecting some policies and systems in the training and capacity building process; the allocation, utilization, and incentives for the cadre and civil servant workforce managing state affairs on religion.

III. Basic Solutions

1. Conducting a review and assessment of the cadre and civil servant workforce engaged in religious work; implementing training and capacity building according to the positions of officials and civil servants. Prioritizing training and capacity building for officials engaged in religious work in ethnic minority areas and regions where new religious issues have emerged.

2. Diversify training forms, develop contents and programs suitable for different target groups and religious regions.

3. Enhance the quality of professional and vocational training on religious work, innovate teaching content and methods.

4. Build and improve the quality of the faculty.

5. Develop a proposal to upgrade the Center for Research and Vocational Training in Religious Work into a School of Religious Work and invest necessary funds for the Center for Research and Vocational Training in Religious Work.

6. Closely integrate training and vocational training with planning and policy development for cadre utilization.

7. Reasonably allocate and decentralize professional and vocational training tasks in religious work, complying with the Government's Training and Vocational Training Regulations while being practical for each level and training institution.

8. Establish and perfect systems and policies for training and vocational training for cadres engaged in state management of religion and religious work.

IV. Sources of Funding for the Implementation of the Proposal.

The funding for implementing the proposal will be sourced from the State budget annually allocated for training, retraining, and cadre vocational training as stipulated by the State Budget Law.

Article 2. Implementation

1. The Government Office of Religion shall be responsible for:

a) Monitoring, guiding, and evaluating the implementation process of this proposal to report to the Government and the Ministry of Home Affairs;

b) Developing and organizing vocational training programs for cadres and civil servants involved in religious work;

c) Cooperating with the Front and political-social organizations to build and implement plans for vocational training in religious work for cadres of the Fatherland Front and political-social organizations;

d) Collaborating with the National Academy of Political Studies and Public Administration, Hanoi University of Social Sciences and Humanities, and Hanoi National University to develop advanced training programs, compile training materials for cadres and civil servants in religious work, and organize training sessions for faculty members;

đ) Implementing vocational training in religious work throughout the national administrative sector managing religion and cadres of the Fatherland Front and political-social organizations at central and provincial levels;

e) Preparing annual budgets and settling training and vocational training expenses under the responsibility of the Government Office of Religion; compiling supplementary budget proposals to support localities with difficulties from the central budget and submitting them to the Ministry of Finance for decision by competent authorities;

g) Taking the lead and coordinating with the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Education and Training, and the Ministry of Planning and Investment to develop a proposal to upgrade the Center for Research and Vocational Training in Religious Work into a School of Religious Work, and submit it for approval; consideration and decision by the Prime Minister.

2. The Ministry of Home Affairs

a) Collaborating with the Government Office of Religion to continue reviewing the implementation process of Decree No. 22/2004/NĐ-CP dated January 12, 2004, of the Government on improving the organizational structure and staffing for religious work under People's Committees at all levels; establishing standards for positions in the civil service sector managing religion;

b) Guiding the Government Office of Religion in building a core faculty and part-time faculty in the field of religion.

3. Ministry of Finance

Based on the proposal of the Government Office of Religion, the plan of the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the state budget capacity, review and consolidate the funding for the implementation of the proposal within the annual state budget according to the provisions of the State Budget Law.

4. The Ministry of Education and Training, the National Academy of Political Studies and Public Administration, the Institute of Social Sciences of Vietnam

Collaborate with the Government Office of Religion to develop and implement training and vocational training programs for cadres in religious work.

5. Provincial People's Committees under the Central Government

a) Incorporate the planning, training, vocational training, and utilization of cadres in state management of religion into the planning, training, and vocational training of cadres and civil servants at the provincial and municipal levels;

b) Direct the Provincial and Municipal Offices of Religion to develop annual and five-year training and vocational training plans for the cadre in state management of religion;

c) Direct the Provincial and Municipal Offices of Religion to cooperate with political schools in organizing training and vocational training on religious work for cadres at the district and grassroots levels;

Article 3. This Decision takes effect fifteen days after its publication in the Official Gazette.

Article 4. THE MINISTERS, HEADS OF GOVERNMENT-LEVEL MINISTRIES, HEADS OF GOVERNMENT-LEVEL AGENCIES, AND CHAIRMEN OF PROVINCE AND CITY PEOPLE'S COMMITTEES DIRECTLY UNDER THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCING THIS DECISION./.