Ho Chi Minh City plans free textbooks for all students

All students from grades one to 12 are expected to receive free textbooks on a loan basis, expanding beyond the initial plan for only three grade levels, according to the Department of Education's proposal.

This information was shared by Nguyen Tan Phat, Director of the Department of Education and Training, at a working session between the National Assembly's Committee for Culture and Education and Ho Chi Minh City on the morning of 17/7.

He stated that all students from grades one to 12 and learners in continuing education facilities or literacy programs would benefit from this policy. The total estimated cost is 567 billion VND. The Department of Education and Training has requested schools to survey the demand for borrowed textbooks from students and parents.

Previously, Ho Chi Minh City had planned to provide free textbooks for students in grades one, 6, and 10 on a loan basis from school libraries, starting in the 2026-2027 academic year. The program was then set to expand annually, covering all grade levels by 2029.

Ho Chi Minh City is the largest educational hub in the country, with nearly 2,6 million students and more than 3,400 schools. Currently, the ratio of classrooms per 10,000 school-aged residents is 277 classrooms. The city aims to reach a ratio of 300 classrooms by 2030.

To date, some other localities have also planned to provide free textbooks starting next academic year, including: Hoa Vang commune (Da Nang), Hue, Dong Xoai ward, and Bu Dang commune (Dong Nai).