Voters disagree with receptive attitude toward textbook criticism

Expressing interest in the renovation of the general education textbook program, National Assembly delegate Nguyen Thi Kim Thuy (Da Nang) acknowledged the great efforts of the Ministry of Education and Training in building the curriculum. general education program 2018 and directed the compilation, publication and release of new textbooks according to the schedule set by the resolutions of the National Assembly.

 The comrades chaired, secretaries at the meeting on the morning of June 1.

The problems in human resources and finance that the Ministry of Education and Training and the education sector in general are difficult to solve alone, doing a job that is highly expected by the whole country is educational innovation, but both factors The most important thing - people and money - can't do well if they can't take the initiative. Delegate Nguyen Thi Kim Thuy also said that if the Ministry of Education and Training closely examines and inspects, detects difficulties, problems and mistakes, and promptly discusses with local leaders and reports to the Prime Minister. If the Government takes measures to remove and handle, those difficulties, problems and mistakes are not without solutions.

According to delegate Nguyen Thi Kim Thuy, about errors in some textbooks and the possibility of a lack of textbooks in the upcoming school year, the attitude of the Ministry of Education and Training and publishers in absorbing Criticism is what makes voters worry, public opinion disagrees. Most of the critical comments were not responded to by the publishers and the Ministry of Education and Training. Some of the answers given are not factually correct. 

Delegate Nguyen Thi Kim Thuy cited for example, in a written response to a delegate's question, the Minister of Education and Training affirmed that Vietnam Education Publishing House had withdrawn to repair 110.000 books, and at the same time canceled it. and reprinted 38.000 books of Natural Science grade 6 of the series Connecting knowledge to life.

National Assembly member Nguyen Thi Kim Thuy spoke on many issues about textbooks. 

However, according to teachers in many schools, books have not been replaced with new books. “If you want to know what information is right and what information is wrong, just check the book appraisal records. If the book is repaired, when will the repair take place?", delegate Nguyen Thi Kim Thuy asked. 

In a recent reply to the question, the Minister of Education and Training reaffirmed the opinion of the representative of the Vietnam Education Publishing House during the meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister on the afternoon of May 10, 5. Accordingly, as of April 2023, 30, the rate of textbook printing of Vietnam Education Publishing House according to the 4 general education program for grades 2023, 2018, 4 reached 8%, while In fact, on May 11, 79, this Publishing House just issued an invitation to bid to print grade 5, 5 and 2023 textbooks to import bookstores in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho and Danang. Bid opening time is 4 a.m. on May 8, 11. Thus, it means that the number of 9% of textbooks that the Publisher reports to the Deputy Prime Minister has been printed before bidding, delegate Nguyen Thi Kim Thuy analyzed.

Lack of transparency in textbook selection

Delegate Nguyen Thi Kim Thuy said that the lack of transparency, objectivity, lack of respect for the opinions of teachers, schools and students' parents in choosing textbooks that the press reflects stems from the Information. Circular No. 25 dated August 26, 8 of the Ministry of Education and Training on guiding the selection of textbooks.

Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son at the meeting on the morning of June 1. 

Although the circular sets out the process of selecting books from the grassroots level upwards, it gives the right to vote on book selection of each subject to a council of 15 people without any regulation that when a textbook is approved by the teachers. At whatever rate the educational institution chooses, the board is responsible for choosing that book.

“I was reflected by many teachers and administrators of educational institutions in choosing textbooks that the opinions of teachers and schools were not respected. I have the specific address of these teachers and administrators," said delegate Nguyen Thi Kim Thuy.

Also according to delegate Nguyen Thi Kim Thuy, the most worrying thing is that the selection of books lacks transparency and objectivity, not only does not encourage competition among organizations and individuals compiling, publishing and publishing textbooks in order to constantly improve the quality of textbooks, benefit teachers and learners, but also have the ability to encourage unfair competition, gradually distort the policy of socialization, and even eliminate socialization in this area, returning to the monopoly status as before.

 View of Dien Hong Hall on the morning of June 1.

On that basis, delegate Nguyen Thi Kim Thuy requested the Government to direct the organization of inspection, examination, detection and timely handling of violations; The Ministry of Education and Training shall urgently review and immediately amend the unreasonable provisions of Circular 25.

The delegate also suggested the National Assembly and the Government consider amending the Law on Education to continue implementing the policy of diversifying learning materials mentioned in Resolution 29 of the Central Committee and socializing the compilation of books. textbooks were specified in Resolution 88 of the National Assembly.

MAI DUONG LAM