What did the Minister of Education and Training say?

Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son has just issued a document responding to the feedback from National Assembly representative Nguyen Thi Kim Thuy (Da Nang delegation) at the socio -economic session on June 1st.

Is there ambiguity in book printing?

During the questioning session, delegate Nguyen Thi Kim Thuy expressed concern that the Vietnam Education Publishing House had printed 79% of the textbooks for grades 4, 8, and 11 under the new general education program before putting them up for tender.

Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son affirmed that there is no truth to the claim that the Vietnam Education Publishing House printed books before the bidding process was opened.

Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son.

The head of the education sector stated that, in order to ensure sufficient supply of new textbooks, while waiting for localities to register the number of books selected for bidding, the Ministry of Education and Training requires the Vietnam Education Publishing House to prepare sufficient materials, including contingency materials for printing and supplying textbooks.

According to a report by the Vietnam Education Publishing House, as of April 30th, the unit had printed 86% of its planned output of textbooks for grades 5, 9, and 12 (according to the old general education program), with 65% of the planned output stored in the warehouse.

For textbooks under the new general education curriculum for grades 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, and 10, the unit has implemented printing at 81% of the planned output, and the inventory has reached 36% of the planned printing.

Specifically for textbooks for grades 4, 8, and 11 – which will be implemented for the first time next school year – the publisher plans to print 51.41 million copies. Of these, 40.44 million copies, equivalent to 79% of the planned printing, are currently being procured for printing services to select suppliers. The printing of textbooks for these three grades is expected to be completed before June 30, 2023.

Therefore, the 79% figure mentioned in the report is not the number of books actually printed, but rather the number included in the "printing service procurement" budget for selecting suppliers. Regarding this matter, the Ministry of Education and Training has already issued a written response to the National Assembly representative's question, sent to Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Thuy on May 19th.

Transparent textbook selection

Regarding the selection of textbooks for the 2023-2024 school year, delegate Kim Thuy assessed: " The lack of transparency, objectivity, and respect for the opinions of teachers, schools, and students in the selection of new textbooks in the past stems from Circular 25."

Teachers choose the textbooks.

Minister Son replied that since 2020, the selection of textbooks in provinces and centrally-administered cities has been carried out according to Circular 25. During the implementation process, the Ministry has issued guiding documents and organized inspections and audits in some localities regarding the selection and supply of textbooks for the implementation of the new curriculum.

Minister Nguyen Kim Son stated that the Ministry of Education and Training has two points to emphasize to localities regarding textbook selection. Firstly, for each subject and educational activity in a given grade level, there should be one or more textbooks from the list approved by the Minister of Education and Training. The Ministry of Education and Training does not restrict localities to using only textbooks published by the Vietnam Education Publishing House.

Secondly, the selection of textbooks must ensure they are appropriate to the socio-economic characteristics of the locality and suitable to the teaching and learning conditions at general education institutions.

Circular 25 also clarifies that the textbook selection council is established by the Provincial People's Committee. This council assists the Provincial People's Committee in organizing the selection of textbooks according to the regulations in the circular and the textbook selection criteria stipulated by the Provincial People's Committee, and proposes a list of textbooks to be used in educational institutions.

Over the three years from 2020 to 2022, the Ministry of Education and Training conducted eight inspections in various localities regarding the implementation of the 2018 general education program and textbook selection. The Ministry of Education and Training identified several shortcomings and problems in textbook selection in these localities and directed their rectification.

Ha Cuong

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Source: https://vtc.vn/dbqh-phan-anh-nhap-nhem-in-an-chon-sach-giao-khoa-bo-truong-gd-dt-noi-gi-ar797663.html