Efforts to speed up textbook publication

SGGP 06/18/2023 05:58

Textbooks implementing the 2018 General Education Program for grades 4, 8 and 11 have not yet been widely distributed on the market as planned.

Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Vietnam Education Publishing House Nguyen Van Tung

SGGP Newspaper reporters had an interview with Mr. Nguyen Van Tung, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Vietnam Education Publishing House (NXBGDVN), about this issue.

* REPORTER: When can parents and students buy textbooks for grades 4, 8 and 11?

- Mr. NGUYEN VAN TUNG: According to the original plan, the Vietnam Education Publishing House planned to publish textbooks for grades 4, 8 and 11 from June 15. However, in the process of implementing the printing service procurement (in the form of open bidding), the Vietnam Education Publishing House had to clarify some documents of the suppliers, leading to a delay in implementation. Up to now, the Vietnam Education Publishing House has completed the extensive printing service procurement and is coordinating with printers to speed up the progress and make efforts to implement printing to achieve the set plan goals.

Currently, many provinces and cities are experiencing power shortages and rotating power outages, affecting a number of printing houses. The Vietnam Education Publishing House has implemented additional solutions to ensure adequate supply of textbooks before the start of the new school year, such as mobilizing workers to focus on tasks that do not require machinery during power outages; prioritizing the printing of textbooks first, exercise books and teacher's books later; printing volume 1 first, volume 2 later...

* Currently, the price of textbooks under the new program is 2-3 times higher than the old program. What policies does the Vietnam Education Publishing House implement to support students?

- Every year, NXBGDVN implements support programs for students and parents worth tens of billions of VND, such as giving textbooks to students in difficult circumstances, granting scholarships to poor students who overcome difficulties; donating books and equipment to school libraries... In 2023, NXBGDVN will allocate more funds than in 2022 to implement the program of giving textbooks to students in difficult circumstances and donating books to school libraries, creating conditions for students to borrow and share textbooks...

* In the 2022-2023 school year, there have been cases of parents and even schools mistakenly buying pirated textbooks. What measures has the Vietnam Education Publishing House taken to limit this situation?

- To prevent counterfeit and pirated books, NXBGDVN strives to maintain high standards and accuracy in the quality of content, form and design of textbooks. In particular, the unit applies high technology to prevent counterfeit books, such as: using special anti-counterfeit stamps combined with new technology stamps on publications (allowing access to learning resources, online data), applications to identify genuine books, counterfeit books...

We also closely coordinate with state management agencies, law enforcement agencies and local authorities to promptly detect and handle acts of printing and distributing counterfeit books; publicize the official textbook distribution system, recommend teachers, parents and students to buy books at the official distribution system, local book and school equipment companies, and not buy books from unknown sources on the market to avoid buying pirated or counterfeit books.

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