Many books are still missing.

There are only 3 weeks left until the new school year 2024-2025. Currently, bookstores and textbook dealers in Gia Lai province are extremely busy.

Gia Lai School Equipment and Books Joint Stock Company is actively working with publishers to provide adequate, consistent and timely supplies according to plan, especially for new textbooks. However, as a mountainous province with a large ethnic minority population and difficult economic and social conditions, Gia Lai province is looking for many ways to ensure that students have enough books to study.

Mr. Nguyen Van Long - Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training of Gia Lai province - commented: In previous school years, during the opening season, there was still a situation where students lacked books to go to school, especially students in remote areas in districts such as Kbang, Duc Co, Kong Chro...

Ho Minh Cuong, whose child is in 5th grade, in Buon Ma Thuot City (Dak Lak Province), said: "Because I'm so busy with work, I only bought textbooks and school supplies for my daughter in early August. However, after spending more than 2 million VND on shopping, I still lack a few books for my child. The store told me to come back in mid-August and they will have all the books I need to buy."

According to Hai Ba Trung Bookstore, Buon Ma Thuot City, the demand for textbooks and school supplies for children is increasing before the new school year. At the unit, there is a shortage of books for grades 5, 9, and 12 and they have not arrived yet.

The bookstore is continuing to replenish the missing books. To support students in preparing for the new school year, the bookstore has a 5 - 20% discount program depending on the type of textbooks, tools, and school supplies to accompany customers.

Support books for poor students

Mr. Truong Van Bang - Director of Dak Lak Book and School Equipment Joint Stock Company - informed that the bidding process for printing textbooks by publishers is quite slow. In addition, the province's textbook selection plan is late, so the supply of books for grades 5, 9, and 12 is delayed.

In the new school year, the company has imported more than 4 million copies of books to serve students in the province from grades 1 to 12. In addition, the unit has signed book distribution contracts with more than 400 bookstores and agents in the province to fully and promptly meet the demand for textbooks in preparation for the new school year.

According to statistics from the Department of Education and Training of Gia Lai province, currently for grades 1, 2, 3, and 4, there is no shortage of books. For grade 5, new books are being reviewed. The general direction of the department is determined to not have a shortage of books.

Currently, the departments are counting the number of students lacking books so that the department can have a plan to ask for funding or call for social resources to help them have books to study. The province has 46% of the population being ethnic minorities, and their lives are still difficult. Some districts are willing to allocate budget funds to buy books for poor and near-poor students.

The Gia Lai provincial education sector is mobilizing sponsors and benefactors to support books for students in disadvantaged areas. Currently, the Department of Education and Training in some districts in the area has opened book libraries. Some district People's Committees have allocated budget sources to purchase and provide adequate books for students. These measures aim to ensure that students do not lack books when the new school year begins.

Mr. Nguyen Van Long - Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training of Gia Lai province - said that at the end of each school year, homeroom teachers will mobilize students to donate and give books to students in the next class to borrow. Last school year, thanks to the mobilization of the National Assembly Delegation of the province, philanthropists sponsored 6 billion VND to buy books for students.