Need to reduce intermediary steps in choosing textbooks

It has been approved by the Ministry , so why is the locality still "approving" it again?

The organization of socialized textbook selection in recent times has been implemented in accordance with the provisions of 3 circulars 01, 25 and 27.

The selection of textbooks for students is now assigned to educational institutions after 3 changes to the circular.

PHOTO: DAO NGOC THACH

According to Circular No. 01 issued by the Ministry of Education and Training on January 30, 2020, the right to decide on textbook selection belongs to general education institutions. On August 26, 2020, the Ministry of Education and Training issued Circular No. 25 replacing Circular 01 on textbook selection. The Textbook Selection Council is established by the Provincial People's Committee, helping the Provincial People's Committee organize textbook selection instead of assigning it to each school as in Circular 01. On December 28, 2023, the Ministry of Education and Training issued Circular No. 27 regulating the selection of textbooks in general education institutions for educational institutions.

Sharing with Thanh Nien reporter, the principal of a famous school in Hanoi was upset: “The matter of choosing textbooks is of course the responsibility of teachers and learners (those who use the books). Why do we have to issue one circular after another, “all the way around”? The Ministry of Education and Training issues a list of textbooks used in general schools, then the provincial People's Committee issues a list of textbooks used in local educational institutions. Perhaps in the world, only Vietnam does that! Not to mention, the state provides money to the Ministry of Education and Training to appraise and approve textbooks. The state must also provide money to the provincial People's Committee to select textbooks for local use (Article 9 of Circular 27)”.

A leader of the Hanoi Department of Education and Training said that for a long time, the Hanoi People's Committee has decided to choose textbooks according to the policy that all textbooks approved by the Ministry of Education and Training, the People's Committee also approved the selection to best meet the needs and choices of educational institutions. In principle, textbooks approved by the Minister of Education and Training must ensure all aspects for schools to choose, so localities cannot limit this choice of schools.

At the conference summarizing the 5 years of implementing the socialization of textbooks, some opinions from the local authorities also suggested that the authority to approve the list of textbooks should be adjusted to the director of the Department of Education and Training instead of assigning the authority to the chairman of the provincial People's Committee as it is now. Because in reality, according to the localities, the list of selected books is also compiled by the Department of Education and Training from the opinions and proposals of schools and teachers to advise the provincial leaders.

The representative of the Ministry of Education and Training explained that this regulation is implemented according to the Law on Education, but also promised to review and propose amendments to the law in the direction of adjusting the right to approve the textbook list, reducing intermediary steps.

3RD REPAIR STILL HAS PROBLEMS

Commenting on textbook selection, the leader of Nam Dinh Department of Education and Training said that Circular 27 has taken into account the limitations of previous textbook selection guidelines, creating conditions for schools and teachers to directly select textbooks. However, the implementation of the circular still has some problems that need to be clarified.

For example, the voting for textbook selection for specialized subjects only has 1-2 teachers/school but the Ministry has not yet provided specific instructions. The Circular also requires "professional groups to develop plans to organize the selection of textbooks for each subject structured in professional groups" but for primary school, there is no professional group for each subject, if divided by block, there is only 1 group, develop 1 plan for 12 subjects, or 12 plans for 12 subjects? Or the regulation on professional groups voting to select 1 textbook, for primary school, there are many educational institutions that only have 1 teacher teaching specialized subjects, which is not suitable for voting. In addition, some selected subjects only have 1 teacher/subject to select textbooks (for example, music, fine arts, technology, civics, etc.), so textbook selection is easily subjective.

Nam Dinh Department of Education and Training also said that the time for introducing textbooks for each subject by publishers in the book introduction workshop (supporting the organization of textbook selection) is still limited. It is recommended that publishers increase the time for introducing textbooks to support research and textbook selection as well as training and capacity building for management staff, teachers and researchers in textbook evaluation.

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training said that the number of hard copies sent to schools for teachers to refer to and research is limited, so teachers have difficulty in discussing and researching...

Meanwhile, the textbook publishers said that the fact that educational institutions choose textbooks according to Circular 27 makes it difficult to supply books to the right needs of each locality in small quantities (because each school chooses subjects from different textbook sets), so bookstores need to have a store area that can be 3 times larger than before to display all textbook sets; sales labor costs also arise because there must be workers to select books or guide parents to buy the right books their children need.

After nearly 5 years of implementing the socialization of textbooks, there are still many concerns about book prices, book supply, textbook selection...

photo: peach jade

There are still shortcomings in textbook selection.

The Ministry of Education and Training said that every year, the Ministry issues a plan and directs the implementation of inspections and examinations, focusing mainly on the selection of textbooks in localities. In the period of 2020 - 2024, the Ministry will organize inspections and examinations of the implementation results and the implementation of tasks at the beginning of the school year for the Departments of Education and Training, including contents related to the socialization of textbooks. The Ministry of Education and Training has conducted 10 inspections, 36 planned inspections and 3 surprise inspections in 6 provinces and cities on the implementation of the 2018 General Education Program and the selection of textbooks in localities.

The inspection results show that the Departments of Education and Training have advised the People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities to issue documents within their authority and the localities have organized the selection of textbooks according to the provisions of the circular. In addition, there are some shortcomings in the process of selecting textbooks in localities. The inspection team has made specific recommendations in reviewing the responsibilities for the above limitations, shortcomings and violations belonging to the relevant agencies, units and individuals in advising, directing and organizing the implementation of contents related to the socialization of textbooks. The Ministry of Education and Training informed: "Statistics on the results of textbook selection of localities at the subject councils match the textbooks most chosen by general education institutions".

In the coming time, the Ministry said it will strengthen inspection and examination work and cover the contents of textbook socialization. Strengthen strict handling of violations in textbook selection and textbook selection process. Direct the Department of Education and Training inspectors to have a plan to focus on increasing the duration of regular and surprise inspections of textbook selection contents.

What is the market share of socialized textbooks?

The Ministry of Education and Training's synthesis from the 2021-2023 reporting data shows that there are a total of 13 textbook publishing units. The number of textbooks for grades 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, and 11 is 303 titles. In addition to the Vietnam Education Publishing House, which has 303 textbooks published (100%) and VEPIC Company, which has 153 titles (50.1%). The remaining units have a small number of published books (from 0.65 - 8.9%).

The distribution rate in the period 2021 - 2023 shows that the distribution rate (market share) of the Vietnam Education Publishing House has decreased from 100% before socialization to 71.8% now. According to the Ministry of Education and Training, this shows that the policy of socializing the compilation and distribution of textbooks has created competition to contribute to promoting the compilation and distribution of textbooks.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/can-giam-bot-khau-trung-gian-trong-chon-sach-giao-khoa-185241220224530505.htm