This directive is part of Resolution 71 of the Politburo on breakthroughs in education and training development, issued on 22/8.
Previously, the Ministry of Education and Training was tasked with compiling a textbook set following the 2018 general education program (the new program). Specifically, Resolution 88 of 2014 of the National Assembly on innovating the general education program and textbooks finalized the policy of one program with multiple textbook sets, promoting the socialization of textbook compilation and eliminating the publishing monopoly.
To proactively implement the new program, the Ministry organized the compilation of a textbook set with a budget of 16 million USD from a World Bank loan.
However, for various reasons, the Ministry of Education and Training was unable to carry out this task. The National Assembly subsequently agreed that if each subject already had at least one textbook set that had been appraised and approved, the state budget would not be used to compile further textbooks for that subject. Starting in 2020, the new textbook replacement roadmap began, with three textbook sets available for each grade level for schools to choose from.
On 13/8, during a meeting to provide feedback on the draft Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Education Law, Nguyen Dac Vinh, Chairman of the National Assembly's Culture and Society Committee, suggested researching and developing a common textbook set. The Ministry of Education and Training could compile other sets as reference materials.
National Assembly Vice Chairman Nguyen Khac Dinh also suggested that the Ministry institutionalize the need for a common textbook set into law for stricter enforcement.
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Students at Dinh Tien Hoang primary school, Thu Duc City during a class in 9/2023. Photo: Quynh Tran |
Students at Dinh Tien Hoang primary school, Thu Duc City during a class in 9/2023. Photo: Quynh Tran
Currently, there are three sets of general education textbooks on the market, along with some individual books. All general education students have been using new textbooks. Depending on their specific conditions and needs, schools are allowed to choose which textbooks to use for teaching.
Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son has repeatedly stated that it is not feasible to return to using a single textbook set at this time, as it would be wasteful and affect the goal of fundamental and comprehensive education reform.
In addition to the requirement for a unified nationwide textbook set, Resolution 71 of the Politburo sets a goal of providing free textbooks for all students by 2030.
Duong Tam
