Chapter 450: Department Personnel Adjustments

The Provincial Education Department currently has vacancies in the Education Examination Institute, which was formerly the Provincial Admissions Office Director, as well as the Director of the Student Aid Center and the heads of the Stability Office, Development Division, and Finance Division; all are "hot" positions, especially the Provincial Admissions Office, whose prestige is very high, naturally attracting countless people's covetousness. Not only insiders are "competing" for them, even people from external units want to "insert" themselves.

In April, Lu Fan began exchanging views with members of the Department Party Committee, planning to staff these important positions.

After the news spread, many people acted on the wind, either proactively approaching Lu Fan for talks or leveraging connections.

Lu Fan fully understood that leaving such important positions "undecided for a long time" would inevitably cause trouble, so he intended a swift resolution, preliminarily drafting candidates and preparing to bring them to the Party Committee meeting for study.

On April 2, Secretary Xu Yongjiang's secretary Sun Ao called, recommending a candidate for the Provincial Admissions Office Director. Although it did not state that it was Xu Yongjiang's intention, even a fool could tell it was his directive. This put Lu Fan in a dilemma, since the candidate had already been fixed as Zhao Sijie, several deputy directors had expressed agreement, and the connection of Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee Wu Xiaohua was also in play.

The next morning, the Governor's secretary called, recommending a division chief from the Provincial Government Office to Lu Fan, stating that the Governor held this comrade in high regard.

This made Lu Fan's difficulty even greater; no one is easy to offend!

Soon, Deputy Governor Han Guishan added more trouble, recommending Personnel Department Director Mo Jiepeng for the Provincial Admissions Office Director. Although phrased as a suggestion, Lu Fan really did not want to offend Uncle Han's face, as he had always been helped by him.

Before Lu Fan could sort things out, the Minister of the Provincial Organization Department and a Vice Minister of the Ministry of Education also pleaded, recommending a different candidate for the Provincial Admissions Office Director.

Thus it is clear how "in demand" this position is; once a person is assigned, it inevitably offends others. The leaders may not say it aloud, but they certainly have thoughts in mind: if you don't take me seriously, how can I support your work? Those handling administrative affairs value face heavily; once offended, they often wait for you on a "short circuit", and perhaps a single underhanded move could leave you at a loss, nullifying prior efforts, and in worse cases cause a dismal ending!

Lu Fan, helpless, could only employ the "delay" tactic, holding back for a while, letting the bullet keep flying; as long as personnel decisions aren't moved, no one is offended. Thus he decided that the Deputy Director of the Provincial Admissions Office would temporarily oversee the work.

As for the other positions, although many leaders have made overtures, their ranks aren't that high, and Lu Fan isn't afraid of them.

On April 10, the Provincial Education Department held a Party Committee meeting, studying candidates for the Student Aid Center Director, Development Division, Finance Division, and Stability Office. Basically, all were candidates recommended by the Party Committee members' subordinate leaders; several deputy directors were promoted. Lu Fan fully respected their opinions, essentially achieving meritocracy, talent‑appropriate placement, full utilization of personnel, proper matching of people to posts, and suitable staffing—only the Provincial Admissions Office Director remained unfilled.

In late April, in accordance with the Provincial Government's early‑year arrangement, the Education Department launched a special action titled "Grasp Layout Structure Adjustment, Optimize Education Resource Allocation", which involved school mergers and closures.

To respond to trends in school‑age population, the Provincial Education Department replanned the layout, adapting to local conditions and reasonably adjusting and optimizing the educational structure, striving to break policy barriers that shared teachers, facilities, and curriculum resources across grades and schools. Following the requirements of "build first, then dismantle" and that school mergers must obtain public consent while retained schools must satisfy the public, the department treated the merger of small schools and learning sites with scientific caution.

To this end, Education Department Director Lu Fan conducted in‑depth grassroots research, widely soliciting opinions from parents and local governments.

On May 4, the Provincial Education Department launched a province‑wide school assessment to lay the groundwork for future school closures; Lu Fan assigned this task to Deputy Director Ma Yajun, noting that he currently had a bit of free time and must not let any deputy position become idle.

On May 6, the Qinchuan Provincial Education Department issued a notice titled "On Implementing the Qinchuan Province Excellent Teacher Cultivation Plan", investing massive manpower, material and financial resources to carry out the provincial Excellent Teacher Cultivation Plan. After three to five years of effort, it will significantly improve teachers' overall quality, professional level, and innovative ability across the province, laying a solid foundation for training fifty thousand backbone and excellent teachers.

This is a normative document; once issued, it must be continuously implemented for the next several years, representing Lu Fan's contribution to the future of Qinchuan's education cause.

The college entrance examination is the most important exam in a person's life and a key task of the Education Department; this year is especially unique. To better promote the development of high school education, the current new college entrance exam reform has adopted a subject selection model centered on "3+1+2". The Provincial Education Department is working feverishly to study the new exam, intensively convening experts and scholars for special meetings to examine the new policy.

On May 10, the Education Department submitted to the Provincial Government the "Implementation Measures for the 2022 Qinchuan Province General Higher Education Institution Admissions Work".

On May 15, the Provincial Government's executive meeting reviewed and passed the "Implementation Measures" submitted by the Education Department.

On May 20, the Qinchuan Provincial Education Department released the 2022 college entrance exam policy; students and parents cheered, as for most students it allows them to choose subjects they like and gain a scoring advantage.

On the afternoon of May 22, the 2022 province‑wide ordinary university admissions examination safety video‑conference was held in Chang'an, attended and spoken by Deputy Governor and Provincial Admissions Committee Director Han Guishan.

Education Department Director Lu Fan pointed out that the college entrance exam concerns social fairness and the vital interests of countless examinees; all local relevant departments must raise their political stance, strengthen political responsibility, arrange and deploy meticulously, carry out related work solidly and precisely, tightly prevent and crack down on all forms of exam cheating, and ensure this year's exam organization proceeds safely, smoothly, and steadily.

Deputy Governor Han Guishan emphasized that every link must be implemented strictly, meticulously, and early, improving emergency plans, genuinely safeguarding the safety and health of examinees and exam staff. The exam safety bottom line must be firmly upheld, ensuring the security of test items, papers, and the entire exam process. Hazard identification and handling must be strengthened, and illegal exam‑related crimes severely cracked down. Comprehensive services for examinees must be provided, promptly responding to their and society's concerns, creating a favorable publicity environment, and ensuring the successful achievement of the "Safe College Entrance Exam" goal.

After the meeting, the college entrance exam and middle school exam became the Education Department's key tasks for the next month; the department and the Provincial Admissions Office established 13 supervision groups to inspect the city's college entrance exam preparations.

On June 1, Education Department Director Lu Fan went to the Ningyang Xian junior high school testing site, personally inspecting the school's video surveillance and foreign‑language listening test audio playback equipment, its deployment, operation, and management. He reminded the chief examiner at the site to rehearse repeatedly, improve contingency plans, strengthen emergency response, and ensure the college entrance exam foreign‑language listening test proceeds safely and smoothly; Mayor Si Daiqiang accompanied throughout.

Lu Fan also visited the county Admissions Office to inspect the construction and management of the test paper confidentiality room, examined the Ningyang Xian college entrance exam administration platform's connections with city, province, and Ministry of Education, and held a briefing symposium.

At the symposium, Lu Fan praised Yingjiang's exam preparation work, demanding that each testing site give their all, reconsolidate efforts, and with a strong sense of responsibility and mission strive to achieve the goals of a bright and safe college entrance exam, safeguarding the safety and smooth progress of countless examinees.

Lu Fan emphasized that test item and paper security must be tightly grasped, vigilantly monitoring every link to guarantee absolute safety. Exam conduct and discipline must be taken seriously, strengthening entrance checks for examinees, exam staff, inspectors, and other exam‑related personnel to prevent cheating. Reasonable accommodations must be provided for disabled examinees, enhancing humanitarian care to offer children more comprehensive and quality exam services.

After the meeting, Yingjiang solemnly received the Education Department delegation; Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee member and Municipal Party Secretary Li Ruifang personally attended, and all Municipal Party Committee Standing Committee members and Vice Mayors participated.

After meeting, Li Ruifang smiled and said, "Welcome senior leaders to Yingjiang for inspection and guidance!"

Lu Fan hurriedly replied, "Secretary Li Ruifang, you flatter me; I could never accept such a title!"

Li Ruifang said, "Lu Fan, you know Yingjiang's rules; tonight you must be mentally prepared. Comrades, the time to test your combat ability has arrived; we must never let Director Lu leave the private room!"

Si Daiqiang laughed and said, "Director Lu, the Secretary has given instructions; we must implement them strictly. But I won't 'bully' you—if you drink a glass tonight, I'll match it!"

Lu Fan exclaimed, "If you can hold your liquor, you think you can do whatever you want! Anyway, I'm going all out today, not planning to retreat fully; bring it on!"

Lu Fan is now the Education Department Director, and everyone will eventually make requests of him. Moreover, they are all senior leaders, old friends, and former colleagues; the drinking atmosphere is harmonious and lively, and no one could force Lu Fan to become completely drunk.

After drinking past ten o'clock, the banquet ended; Si Daiqiang personally escorted Lu Fan to his room and arranged for glucose and honey water to be delivered. With no competitive relationship, the two got along very harmoniously, becoming true "brothers".

Lu Fan employed the "Two‑Finger Zen" technique, moving the contents of his stomach outward, feeling much lighter.

Si Daiqiang concernedly said, "You always do this; can your stomach take it?"

Lu Fan laughed, "Do you think I drink like you? I've noticed that whenever I drink more than a jin, you're there; when I drink with others, I definitely 'play tricks'! After all, the liquor is someone else's, but the life is my own!"

Si Daiqiang suddenly said, "You've been Director for half a year; it's time to move on, right? Do you have the next step arranged?"

Lu Fan replied, "There is a direction, but currently no vacant position; we have to wait for an opportunity."

Si Daiqiang asked again, "Is the Provincial Admissions Office Director still not decided? The longer this is delayed, the more detrimental to you; I've heard rumors saying you disregard leaders!"

Lu Fan sighed, "There are so many leaders; who dares to offend them? We can only keep the post vacant for now, as long as the work doesn't fall behind."

Si Daiqiang laughed, "I think you're just being slick, planning to hand it over to the next Director, right?"