Legalize regulations on a set of textbooks used uniformly nationwide.

The draft amendment to the Education Law states: "The State provides a set of textbooks for unified use nationwide" instead of "each subject has one or several textbooks" as currently prescribed.

On the afternoon of September 29, at the 8th Conference of full-time National Assembly Deputies, term XV, chaired by National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, the draft law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Education Law was one of the draft laws that received focused discussion.

The 8th Conference of National Assembly Deputies in full-time activities discussed amending the Education Law, including regulations on a unified set of textbooks.

PHOTO: NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PORTAL

The latest draft law amends regulations on general education textbooks and local educational materials. Accordingly, the State provides a set of textbooks for nationwide use to ensure equitable access to education, quality, modernity, and suitability with educational goals.

The Government regulates free textbooks for students; implements appropriate socialized solutions for textbooks, ensuring sustainability and meeting the requirements of improving the quality of education.

The National Textbook Appraisal Council is regulated and established by the Minister of Education and Training for each subject and educational activity at each level and class to appraise textbooks. The Council and its members are responsible for the content and quality of the appraisal.

The Minister of Education and Training approves textbooks for use in general education institutions after they are appraised and classified by the National Council for Textbook Appraisal; prescribes standards and procedures for compiling and editing general education textbooks.

Meanwhile, the current 2019 Education Law stipulates on general education textbooks as follows: "Each subject has one or several textbooks; the compilation of textbooks is socialized; the publication of textbooks is carried out in accordance with the provisions of law; the Provincial People's Committee decides on the selection of textbooks for stable use in general education institutions in the area according to the regulations of the Minister of Education and Training".

Regarding local educational materials, the draft law amending and supplementing the Law on Education stipulates that specialized agencies under the provincial People's Committees are assigned to compile local educational materials that meet the needs and are suitable to local characteristics, are appraised by the provincial appraisal council and approved by the provincial People's Committee Chairman.

The local educational materials appraisal council is established by decision of the provincial People's Committee chairman. The council and its members are responsible for the content and quality of appraisal; the Minister of Education and Training prescribes the standards and procedures for compiling, editing and appraising local educational materials.

This is a major change from the current law where local educational materials are compiled by the provincial People's Committee and approved by the Minister of Education and Training.

At the conference, many delegates expressed their agreement on the need for a unified set of textbooks to be used nationwide. However, there were also suggestions that stricter regulations on textbook appraisal procedures should be put in place to avoid potential negative consequences.

Delegate Nguyen Thu Ha (Hue City) suggested that it is necessary to clarify the roadmap for implementing free textbooks and accompanying resources.

Previously, the Ministry of Education and Training announced a draft Resolution of the National Assembly on a number of specific mechanisms and policies to make breakthroughs in education and training development, stating that textbooks will be free before 2030.

The Ministry of Education and Training will be responsible for presiding over the organization of implementation and deciding on the use of a set of general education textbooks to apply nationwide according to a suitable roadmap, ensuring efficiency and savings.

According to the Ministry of Education and Training, this policy contributes to reducing the financial burden on society, implementing fairness in education, demonstrating the concern of the Party and State, and ensuring that all students have minimum learning conditions.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/luat-hoa-quy-dinh-mot-bo-sach-giao-khoa-su-dung-thong-nhat-toan-quoc-185250929154507504.htm