A common set of textbooks: A major shift in the education sector

Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW of the Politburo on breakthroughs in education and training development clearly states: ensuring the provision of a unified set of textbooks nationwide, striving to provide free textbooks to all students by 2030. This policy has received consensus from parents and teachers.

According to the Principal of Phan Chu Trinh Primary School (Buon Ma Thuot Ward) Nguyen Thi Tuyet, the unification of a single set of textbooks nationwide is a correct direction and brings many practical benefits. When the whole country has a common set of textbooks, the sponsorship and support of textbooks for students in remote, isolated and disadvantaged areas will be much more useful and effective. This ensures that all students have textbooks to go to school, creating a foundation for fairness and equality in access to education ; helping schools gradually improve the quality of education.

Along with that, adjusting textbooks at this time is necessary to adapt to administrative and geographical changes after the merger of provinces and the operation of two-level local governments. In the immediate future, it is necessary to adjust textbooks of the 2018 General Education Program to suit the actual situation.

Principal of Dinh Nup Primary School (Tan Tien Commune) Duong Van Huan said that the total number of students at the school is about 1,000 students/school year; many of whom are from poor families and cannot afford to buy textbooks. On the first day of school every year, teachers grasp the situation of students to have support plans and mobilize sponsors to ensure that all students have textbooks. If a set of textbooks is unified, the socialization of new or old textbooks will be more convenient. When students are provided with free textbooks, the school will shift its socialization activities to white shirts, school supplies, etc.

Students look to buy textbooks at a bookstore on Hai Ba Trung Street, Buon Ma Thuot Ward.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hanh (Binh Kien ward) has children in grades 3 and 8, sharing that using a common set of textbooks will help parents and students easily transfer their children's classes or schools when necessary; they can give old textbooks to students in more difficult circumstances; thereby saving on expenses at the beginning of the school year for each family.

From a professional perspective, many teachers in disadvantaged educational areas believe that a common set of textbooks will ensure uniformity in knowledge standards, reduce regional differences, facilitate testing and exams, and save costs for parents.

Principal of Tran Phu High School (Hoa Phu Commune) To Thi Minh Thu said that using a common set of textbooks will create favorable conditions for schools to exchange expertise, research and learn from each other. This also helps teachers to be more flexible in teaching open knowledge. However, a set of textbooks must be a combination of advantages from many different sets of books, distilling the quintessence to create a set of books that are easy to understand, close to reality and reduce theoretical content. Students will be able to learn while playing, play while learning, avoiding overload; at the same time reducing the pressure of creating exam questions at all levels, especially the High School Graduation Exam.

The unification of a set of textbooks is not simply an administrative or publishing change, but also a decision with profound social significance. A common set of textbooks, free for students, is a key step to ensure fairness in access to education, opening a new era for Vietnamese education - where all students, whether in urban or remote areas, have the opportunity to develop comprehensively and equally.

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/giao-duc/202509/mot-bo-sach-giao-khoa-chung-buoc-chuyen-lon-cua-nganh-giao-duc-d761b7a/