Decentralizing and delegating textbook selection authority: Proactively adapting to the new context.

GD&TĐ - Before implementing the two-tiered local government system, many provinces and cities proactively deployed plans to select textbooks for the new school year 2025-2026.

At the same time, there is a unified management structure where the commune level has the authority to review textbook selection dossiers for primary and secondary schools .

No disruption

Decentralizing and delegating the authority to choose textbooks not only ensures that students have enough books before the start of the new school year but also affirms the adaptability and effective management capacity of the education sector in the new context.

Amidst profound changes in administrative organization, the selection of textbooks for the 2025-2026 school year has attracted significant public attention. Contrary to initial concerns, the reality in various localities shows that the textbook selection process remains systematic, stable, and in accordance with regulations.

Schools in Phu Tho province (formed by the merger of Vinh Phuc, Hoa Binh, and Phu Tho provinces), especially those formerly part of Vinh Phuc province, have been selecting textbooks since early on. According to a plan issued by the former Vinh Phuc Department of Education and Training in February 2025, primary and secondary schools have received specific guidance on the textbook selection process for grades 1 through 9.

Following the directive from the Department of Education and Training, the district-level Departments of Education and Training promptly issued plans for the selection of supplementary textbooks in accordance with Circular 27/2023/TT-BGDĐT and disseminated them to schools.

Schools organize subject group meetings, evaluate textbooks approved by the Ministry of Education and Training , seek feedback from the council, and register the full quantity of textbooks, including those for students, teachers, and the school library. Following the correct procedures in a transparent and open manner ensures the right to choose for teachers, students, and parents, while also preventing textbook shortages at the beginning of the school year.

Mr. Le Huy Minh, Principal of Hop Ly Secondary School (Hop Ly, Phu Tho), shared: “Before the end of the 2024-2025 school year, the school received guidance documents from the Department of Education and Training. Based on these documents, the school organized the subject departments to select textbooks from grades 6 to 9 and solicited feedback from parents.”

As a result, the Selection Council still chose textbooks from previous school years. This was completed before the implementation of the two-tiered local government system, so it did not affect the progress or quality of textbook selection.”

In Lao Cai province, the textbook selection process proceeded smoothly and without interruption, despite the ongoing administrative boundary changes (merging with the former Yen Bai province).

Mr. Vu Trinh, Principal of Hong Ca Primary and Secondary School (Hung Khanh commune), said: “We received clear guidance from the beginning, so we didn't encounter any difficulties. The selection of textbooks was completed before the two levels of government came into operation, so all activities continued as normal.”

From a local perspective, Ms. Lam Ngoc Anh, Head of the Culture Department of Bao Ai Commune (Lao Cai), affirmed: "Schools have proactively proposed solutions, and the Department of Education and Training has provided specific professional guidance, so there is no confusion or delay for any reason."

Teachers and students of Nam Can Ethnic Boarding Primary and Secondary School (Na Ngoi, Nghe An). Photo: Ho Lai

Facilitating learning for students and teachers.

The 2024-2025 school year marks the completion of the textbook selection process for the new curriculum under the 2018 General Education Program, with grades 5, 9, and 12 implementing the program. Ms. Hoang Thu Phuong, Deputy Director of the Lai Chau Department of Education and Training, stated: “The Department has directed and guided educational institutions under its management to organize textbook selection in accordance with regulations.”

After five years of implementing the 2018 General Education Program and teaching with new textbooks at all levels, despite facing numerous difficulties, the education sector and schools have been flexible and proactive in successfully achieving the program's reform goals.

According to Ms. Hoang Thu Phuong, in the mountainous province of Lai Chau, the selection of textbooks is relatively easy. To select a set of textbooks suitable for the locality, the Lai Chau Provincial People's Committee has issued a Decision stipulating the criteria for selecting textbooks in educational institutions.

Based on the criteria set by the Provincial People's Committee, most schools in Lai Chau province have chosen the same set of textbooks, "Connecting Knowledge with Life." This set of textbooks is suitable for the socio-economic characteristics of the locality and also aligns with the teaching and learning conditions at educational institutions in Lai Chau province.

Mr. Nguyen Van Dung, Principal of Nam Hang Ethnic Boarding Junior High School (Nam Hang commune), said: “Currently, the selection of new textbooks according to the new General Education Program has been completed. The set of textbooks chosen by the school will continue to be used in the following years until new regulations are issued.”

The content of the lessons in the textbooks is appropriate to the available facilities, teaching equipment, and teaching conditions at the school; it is also suitable for the capabilities of the teaching staff and administrators. Furthermore, it meets the requirements of integrated, interdisciplinary teaching, linking lesson content with local realities.”

Similarly, in Nghe An, the selection of textbooks for the 2025-2026 school year was initiated and completed by the end of the 2024-2025 school year. Basically, schools proposed retaining the textbooks used in previous years.

Ms. Vo Thi Tuyet Chinh - Vice Chairman of Tam Quang commune, Nghe An (formerly Deputy Head of the Education and Training Department of Tuong Duong district, old Nghe An province) informed that schools in the area mainly use the "Connecting Knowledge with Life" textbook series.

Primary schools in Tam Quang, and in other mountainous areas of Nghe An province, differ from schools in the lowlands. Specifically, Art and Experiential Activities use the "Creative Horizons" textbook series, while Mathematics and Computer Science use textbooks published by Vinh University.

According to Ms. Vo Tuyet Chinh, when implementing a two-tiered local government system, the authority to review and select textbooks is assigned to the commune level, instead of the Department of Education and Training as before, which is appropriate and basically does not encounter difficulties. The reason is that the selection and compilation process is based on the criteria set by the Nghe An Provincial People's Committee and the guidance of the Department of Education and Training.

In this process, the first and most important role in textbook selection is at the school level. After five years of implementing the 2018 General Education Program, schools have now stabilized teaching and learning based on the selected teaching materials, which are appropriate to the students' circumstances, local economic conditions, as well as the actual facilities, staff, and capabilities of the teachers.

"Essentially retaining the existing textbooks facilitates teaching and learning, builds upon experience from previous years, and saves money for students, especially in mountainous areas and among ethnic minorities," shared Ms. Vo Tuyet Chinh.

Ban Giang Primary School (Tan Phong, Lai Chau) selects textbooks for the 2024-2025 school year. Photo: Ha Thuan

Inheritance and adaptation

Mr. Quách Tất Hưởng - Chairman of the People's Committee of Nậm Hàng commune (formerly Head of the Education and Training Department of Nậm Nhùn district, Lai Châu province) said: "When schools are under the commune's management, the commune will direct the schools to select textbooks according to the guidelines and then report. The commune will compile and report to the Department of Education and Training the list of textbooks selected by the schools."

Mr. Tong Thanh Son, Chairman of the People's Committee of Bum Nua commune, Lai Chau province, believes that the commune's review of textbook selection when implementing a two-tiered local government system is consistent with the principle of decentralized education management.

Furthermore, increased autonomy and accountability will enable commune-level authorities to be more proactive in directing and supervising educational activities in their areas, including textbook selection. This will create conditions for mobilizing community participation and promoting the supervisory role of the Fatherland Front and other mass organizations in textbook selection.

According to Mr. Dao Cong Loi, Deputy Director of the Nghe An Department of Education and Training, the past school year marked the end of the first cycle of implementing the 2018 General Education Program in all grade levels, as well as the introduction of new textbooks.

Therefore, the Department promptly issued guidelines for schools to select textbooks for the following school years, without waiting until the end of the school year, and instead implementing the process at the two levels of local government. According to reports from the specialized departments of the Nghe An Department of Education and Training, the selection of textbooks for the new school year 2025-2026 remains basically stable as in previous years.

According to Mr. Nguyen Tien Dung, Head of the Secondary Education Department of the Nghe An Department of Education and Training, changes to textbooks are rare at the lower secondary level and only occur in a few subjects.

However, these subjects are included in the list of textbooks approved by the Provincial People's Committee, so there is no disruption in the preparation and supply of books. As a province with a large area and 130 communes and wards, the Department of Education and Training implemented the process early and proactively in compiling the list and quantity of books to proactively inform the supply units. This ensures that all students have enough and the correct textbooks for the new school year.

According to the leaders of the Nghe An Department of Education and Training, assigning the authority to review textbook selection dossiers for primary and secondary schools to the commune-level authorities is appropriate and convenient.

The implementation process at the commune level requires a thorough understanding of guiding documents, specifically Circular No. 27/2023/TT-BGDĐT of the Ministry of Education and Training, the criteria issued by the Provincial People's Committee, and guidance from the Department of Education and Training, etc. If any difficulties or obstacles arise, it is necessary to contact the Department of Education and Training for timely explanation and additional guidance.

According to leaders in many localities, the difficulty, if any, is that many commune-level officials are not specialized in education and are therefore unfamiliar with the professional procedures for selecting textbooks.

Therefore, when implementing the system in subsequent school years, the local authorities hope that the competent authorities will provide specific and easy-to-understand guidance on the procedures, criteria, and methods for checking and evaluating applications. Standard forms and illustrative examples of successful applications are needed for communes to learn from and implement smoothly. Support from higher-level professional departments is needed, with officials assigned to coordinate and provide advice, especially in the first year of implementation.

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/phan-cap-phan-quyen-lua-chon-sgk-chu-dong-thich-ung-trong-boi-canh-moi-post740512.html