Compile new textbooks for common use or select and edit from current sets

The draft Law on Education (amended) allows the Minister of Education to be flexible in choosing between compiling a new set of textbooks or choosing to revise the current sets.

On December 4, continuing the 52nd session, the National Assembly Standing Committee gave opinions on explaining, accepting, and revising the draft Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Education .

Authorized by the Government, presenting a report on the reception, explanation and revision of the draft Law, Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son said that, in order to improve feasibility and immediate implementation, the draft was revised in a way that does not create constraints when practical conditions are not yet ripe, such as removing the regulation that the Government decides to socialize textbooks.

View of the meeting. Photo: National Assembly Media

“The open regulation is that the Ministry of Education and Training decides on a set of textbooks to be used uniformly nationwide. This allows flexibility between new compilation plans or selecting and editing existing textbooks,” said the Minister.

Regarding this content, the Government's report also said that after the plan to implement a unified set of textbooks nationwide is decided by the competent authority, the Government will direct the Ministry of Education and Training to review, revise and fully promulgate regulations related to the compilation, appraisal, inspection and selection of textbooks.

These regulations will clarify the role of the State and the participation of society in compiling, publishing, distributing and managing textbook prices; ensuring publicity, transparency and objectivity; preventing monopoly; and at the same time creating conditions for textbooks to be suitable to regional characteristics and educational development requirements.

In addition, the Government's report No. 1131 also clarified a number of opinions related to textbooks such as: Many opinions agreed on providing free textbooks from the 2026-2027 school year to demonstrate the Party and State's concern for education; some opinions suggested studying the option of printing textbooks and providing them to schools for students to borrow (if they are damaged or lost, students must compensate) to ensure sustainability and savings.

In response to the opinions of National Assembly delegates, in the Government's decree specifically regulating free textbooks for students, the Government will study and prescribe implementation plans to ensure efficiency, economy and sustainability, including considering the mechanism for managing, using and reusing textbooks in accordance with practical conditions, contributing to the effective implementation of the free textbooks policy for students.

There are opinions suggesting that the Ministry of Education and Training publicize the process and criteria for selecting and approving textbooks, and at the same time strengthen supervision of the organization of compilation of local educational materials, ensuring the right direction, avoiding commercialization, and absorbing the opinions of National Assembly deputies. The Government has directed the Ministry of Education and Training to review regulations related to the selection, compilation, appraisal and approval of textbooks, ensuring public disclosure of criteria, enhancing accountability and in accordance with the plan to deploy a unified set of textbooks nationwide from the 2026-2027 school year.

From the fact that there have been many cases of disciplinary action, even criminal prosecution related to violations of textbooks, the National Assembly Chairman noted that the law amendment must overcome this situation. Photo: National Assembly Media

For local educational materials, the Government has requested the Ministry of Education and Training to strictly regulate standards, compilation, editing and appraisal processes, and strengthen monitoring mechanisms to ensure proper orientation and avoid commercialization.

In addition, there are concerns about changing from many sets of books to one set of textbooks, and it is believed that the regulation of one set of textbooks could lead to uniformity in thinking, hindering creativity and innovation.

The regulation that the Ministry of Education and Training decides on a set of textbooks to be used uniformly throughout the country is to carry out the assigned tasks in Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW.

The Government will also direct the education sector to promote teacher training and development, innovate teaching and testing methods, and evaluate to promote the initiative, flexibility, and creativity of teachers and students in the teaching and learning process.

Speaking at the meeting, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man reiterated the statement of National Assembly deputies at the discussion session in the hall this morning about the heavy pressure when taking the 10th grade entrance exam.

From there, the National Assembly Chairman suggested that from now on, the exam issue should be strictly managed at the input or output level?

In practice, there have been many cases of disciplinary action, even criminal prosecution, related to violations of textbooks. This is also an issue of concern to parents, people, and voters. The National Assembly Chairman also noted that the law amendment must overcome this situation.

Source: https://laodong.vn/thoi-su/bien-soan-bo-sach-giao-khoa-moi-dung-chung-hoac-lua-chon-chinh-ly-tu-cac-bo-hien-hanh-1620186.ldo