Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son has responded in writing to the petition sent by voters of Hung Yen province after the 7th session of the 15th National Assembly.

Proposal to restrict publication of unnecessary books

According to voters in Hung Yen province, each year publishers print hundreds of textbooks for all levels of education. Textbooks are constantly being replaced and supplemented to keep up with new programs and some are considered unnecessary.

Voters believe that this causes a huge waste of social resources, not to mention the widespread printing and sale of fake books at high prices.

From there, voters requested the Ministry of Education and Training to have timely instructions to avoid printing and trading fake books, and limit the publication of books that are not really necessary.

Responding to voters' petitions, Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son said that since 2000, the general education program has been implemented according to Resolution 40/2000/QH10 and Resolution 88/2014/QH13 on innovation of the general education program.

Accordingly, textbooks are compiled to implement the general education program to specify the program's requirements.

Implementing Resolution 88 on innovation of general education programs and textbooks, Mr. Son said that each subject has a number of textbooks and the compilation of textbooks is socialized, and the publication of textbooks is carried out in accordance with the provisions of law.

According to Mr. Son, in Circular 32/2018/TT-BGDDT, the promulgation of the general education program and new textbook program will be implemented according to the roadmap of the 2020-2021 school year for grade 1; the 2021-2022 school year for grade 2 and grade 6; the 2022-2023 school year for grade 3, grade 7 and grade 10; the 2023-2024 school year for grade 4, grade 8 and grade 11; the 2024-2025 school year for grade 5, grade 9 and grade 12.

The Minister of Education and Training also said that by 2025, the cycle of implementing textbooks according to the 2018 general education program will end. The ministry will organize a summary and draw experience from the process of socializing the compilation, distribution, printing and effective use of textbooks.

On that basis, the Ministry of Education and Training will guide general education institutions to effectively use textbooks for subjects and educational activities.

According to Mr. Son, every year, the Ministry of Education and Training coordinates with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and relevant agencies in organizing law enforcement on preventing, combating and handling acts of producing and trading counterfeit textbooks.

The Ministry of Education and Training has issued a document requesting publishers to proactively coordinate with functional agencies and educational institutions to resolutely and effectively implement the work of preventing and combating piracy, in order to ensure the rights of students; the reputation and quality of publishing of publishers as well as stabilize the textbook supply market.

Low paid school staff, no benefits

Voters in Hung Yen province also said that schools from kindergarten to high school have a team of library and equipment staff assigned a large amount of work according to job position, but in addition to the prescribed salary regime, they do not receive any allowances (including hazardous allowances).

Voters suggest that the Government consider policies to increase wages and allowances for this group to ensure their livelihoods.

Regarding this issue, according to Mr. Son, the salary policy is still being implemented according to Decree No. 204/2004 and Decree 73/2024 of the Government regulating the basic salary and bonus regime for cadres, civil servants, public employees and armed forces.

Allowance regime (including hazardous allowance) for librarians, clerks, and accountants in the group of shared professional job positions is implemented according to the provisions of Circular No. 20/2023 of the Ministry of Education and Training guiding on job positions, staff structure according to professional titles and quotas for the number of people working in public general education institutions and specialized schools.

"The Ministry of Education and Training is continuing to review and research to advise and propose amendments and supplements to a number of current salary policies for education sector civil servants, including school staff, to gradually meet practical needs," Minister Nguyen Kim Son said.