Concerns about lack of books, PDF textbook options and the question of responsibility

Resolution No. 88/2014/QH13 dated November 28, 2014 on innovation of general education programs and textbooks, contributing to fundamental and comprehensive innovation of education and training of the National Assembly and Decision No. 404/QD-TTg approving the Project on innovation of general education programs and textbooks, dated March 27, 2015 of the Prime Minister, encouraging the policy of socialization, avoiding monopoly and group interests in compiling textbooks, seem to have not been implemented seriously and comprehensively.

The controversy over textbook selection has not yet ended.

Vietnam Education Publishing House (hereinafter referred to as Education Publishing House), the exclusive unit for compiling textbooks for many years, is facing fierce competition from other publishing groups such as University of Education Publishing House, Ho Chi Minh City University of Education Publishing House, Hue University Publishing House, Vinh University Publishing House, etc. However, currently, there are still some localities that have chosen and are choosing only one set of textbooks.

This reality is raising many questions. Is there any support for the Education Publishing House to maintain its monopoly, going against the resolutions of the National Assembly and the Decision of the Prime Minister? In addition, public opinion is also wondering whether the Textbook Approval Councils of localities have enough heart and capacity to appraise? Why are the books proposed by the National Appraisal Council and approved by the Minister rejected by the local appraisal councils, while many teachers in those localities express frustration because every year they have to meet, analyze, comment and propose books, but in the end they still cannot teach the books they want.

Recently, the leadership of the Education Publishing House was prosecuted and detained due to many violations in their work, especially related to errors in bidding for printing paper. From there, there is public opinion that, currently, the Education Publishing House is facing a shortage of paper to print textbooks for the 2023-2024 school year. This is even more grounded when on April 12, 2023, in the Conclusion Notice of the Minister of Education & Training at the working session with the Vietnam Education Publishing House, there was a paragraph: "- Consider the time to post PDF textbooks in case paper books are behind schedule, widely announce them to society and ensure easy access and use for users."

Announcement of the Minister's Conclusion on the working session with Vietnam Education Publishing House on April 12, 2023

The question is: If the Education Publishing House's paper books are really behind schedule, how will teachers and students in localities that only choose the Education Publishing House's books teach and learn?

The plan to use PDF as concluded in the Minister’s working session clearly does not fully address the problem. Not every student or family has a computer for students to access books, especially in rural areas. Not to mention that students cannot bring computers or phones to school.

Just imagining parents having to print PDF copies of textbooks for their children is enough to see the terrible mess and waste. Suppose the textbooks of the Education Publishing House are behind schedule by 1 month, how much money will the number of temporary copies that parents have to print for their children cost? Who is responsible for this unreasonable waste? What will be the responsibility of the local Book Selection Councils, will they be responsible before the law and society when they know the situation in advance but still insist on their decision? The question is still open, and is in dire need of answers from the relevant parties.

Khanh Binh

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/nam-hoc-2023-2024-noi-lo-thieu-sach-phuong-an-sach-giao-khoa-pdf-va-cau-hoi-trach-nhiem-post244201.html