Textbook publishing fees and teachers' thoughts

TP – Most of the teachers we met and talked to did not know, did not receive or received very little discount percentage from the unit selling textbooks, exercise books, and reference books. When they learned about the discount rate of 11% – 35%, many teachers were very surprised.

A teacher at a public high school in a mountainous district in Hoa Binh province said that at the end of each year, she distributes coupons for students to register to buy books and school supplies. Many students are in financial difficulty, and their parents work far away and cannot send money back in time, so she has to pay in advance for their children to buy them. She does it because of her duty, for the students; she does not know about discounts and extras, and is not allowed to do so.

“The superiors said that the discount is all calculated on transportation. A set of books costs about 500,000 VND, the transportation cost from Hanoi to Hoa Binh is only 10,000 - 15,000 VND. But if the distribution fee is only 11%, it is equivalent to 55,000 VND/set, which is too much for transportation. If multiplied by 1,000 students, the surplus is very large,” said the teacher.

Another female teacher in Lang Son that we know also said that she did not receive a discount percentage but the work was extremely heavy. When the books arrived, she worked as a “porter” to carry the books to the students. After giving the books to the students, she became the person who collected the students’ debts. In addition to textbooks, the teachers had to “force” the students to buy more reference books and review books because the Department of Education suggested and gave “commands” in meetings. If they did not do so, she and the school would be harshly criticized. After such an exchange, the next day, she called back to report that the school was deducted 4% for both textbooks and reference books – a modest figure compared to the 11% – 35% discount that Tien Phong reporters received when they first started playing the role of book sellers.

Many teachers in other rural and mountainous areas that we talked to complained and felt guilty towards students and parents when they had to be reluctant booksellers. To cope, regarding textbooks, a school in Hoa Binh used the school fund to buy back books from students in previous classes at 50-70% of the price to resell to students in the next class at the same price. Regarding reference books, teachers also had to find ways to get around it, letting only a few students buy them, avoiding leaving the list blank. Some teachers were more perceptive, not buying through the school, through the department, through the education department, but going to the bookstore on the district street to buy them, because the discount was higher, then selling them at a discount to students. "Buying books through the school, through the department or the education department will be more concentrated, saving effort, and it may be cheaper because of buying in large quantities. But if there were discounts to give more discounts to the children or to pay the teachers, that would be great," a teacher told us.

At the beginning of each school year, the issue of textbooks, reference books, school supplies and contributions weighs heavily on the shoulders of parents, especially those in mountainous and disadvantaged areas. Concluding the regular Government meeting on the morning of August 5, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh asked the Ministry of Education and Training to prepare well for the new school year and not to increase textbook prices at this time.

Granted, despite its specificity, textbooks are still a product that must be circulated with commissions according to market rules. However, if the discount is not a secret agreement but is transparent, reduced, and the distribution is more modern and convenient, the price of books can be reduced, reducing the burden on parents and students. The educational environment will therefore also be more standard and beautiful.

Source: https://tienphong.vn/phi-phat-hanh-sgk-va-suy-nghi-cua-giao-vien-post1661848.tpo