On the afternoon of June 3, answering a reporter's question about the proposal of the Ministry of Education and Training to prepare a set of textbooks for students to use for many years, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Hoang Minh Son affirmed that the socialization of textbook compilation and publication is a major policy proposed by the National Assembly since 2014. If a subject has completed at least one set of textbooks that have been appraised and approved, then no textbooks will be compiled using the state budget for that subject.

To date, 9 out of 12 grades have three sets of textbooks. In June, the Ministry of Education and Training will continue to review and approve three final grade textbook sets for grades 5, 9, and 12.

Explaining the shortage of textbooks, especially for grades 4, 8, and 11, Mr. Son said that this was partly due to the locality's slow selection of books this year, and partly due to waiting for price approval in some places. To date, the locality has approved all types of books.

The Ministry of Education and Training has worked with the Education Publishing House to resolve internal difficulties, proactively print books from last year, and have basically completed the work. As for the books for grades 4, 8, and 11, they are all new (newly approved, first printed), Mr. Son said that yesterday, the bidding was opened to print nearly 80% of the books; the remaining 20% ​​will be based on local reports, and then the Education Publishing House will print them.

"In June, the publishing house will print 80% and will complete it in time for the new school year, with enough books for grades 4, 8, and 11," Deputy Minister Son affirmed.

Vietnam will implement the new general education program (2018 program) from the 2020-2021 school year. Currently, the program is applied to grades 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, and 10. This September, it will be the turn of grades 4, 8, and 11, and by 2025, all grades will study the new program. The roadmap for replacing textbooks is also being implemented in parallel with the policy of "one program, many textbooks", eliminating the monopoly on publishing.

Although more than half way through, the Ministry of Education and Training still receives some opinions on "whether to continue a program with many sets of textbooks". Many people are concerned that using many sets of textbooks will lead to a lack of consistency in teaching and learning nationwide.

Viet Tuan