Return to a unified set of textbooks

After many years of implementing the policy of “one program, many textbooks”, Vietnamese education is facing an important decision. Resolution 71 of the Politburo sets out the direction for a unified set of textbooks nationwide, a move that many people call “a return to common sense”.

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The textbook diversification policy once carried many expectations. It was to create healthy competition, diversify learning materials, and encourage creativity.

However, in reality, many bottlenecks are revealed. Schools have to consider choosing between different sets of books. Teachers have to spend time getting used to new sets of books continuously. Students who transfer schools have difficulty because of different lesson structures and book presentations. Parents have to buy many sets of books in a short time, creating a financial burden.

These shortcomings raise the question: Does this diversity really serve the goal of improving the quality of education ? The move towards a unified set of textbooks is not to negate all previous efforts but to adjust for greater effectiveness. A standardized, carefully evaluated source of knowledge will help ensure consistency in the curriculum and create a foundation for assessing learning outcomes on a national scale.

The benefits of a unified textbook set go beyond content consistency. Teachers will focus on developing teaching methods rather than adapting to different book formats. Students will experience less disruption when changing schools. Families will have less financial burden, especially when combined with the roadmap to provide free textbooks for general education by 2030. These contribute to narrowing the gap between regions and increasing access to quality education.

To achieve that result, the book compilation process needs to be organized seriously. It is necessary to mobilize a team of prestigious experts in each subject, listen to the opinions of teachers at the grassroots level, and refer to feedback from parents and students.

The evaluation criteria must be transparent and scientific , ensuring that the books are suitable to the cultural characteristics and social conditions of the country. At the same time, there must be a reasonable implementation roadmap to reduce shock to schools and families. This requires the cooperation of the whole society.

The unified textbook set must be closely linked to other educational innovation solutions. The innovation of textbooks must go hand in hand with improvements in teaching methods, innovation in assessment and evaluation, and improvement of the capacity of the teaching staff. If only books are changed without changing methods, the effectiveness will be very limited.

Finally, unifying textbooks does not mean restricting creativity. On the contrary, when the foundational knowledge is stable, teachers have the conditions to develop creative activities suitable for the classroom environment. Textbooks will become learning support tools, promoting students' thinking and creativity. The return to a unified set of textbooks is a necessary step to build a fair, effective and sustainable education for the future.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/tin-moi/202508/tro-lai-mot-bo-sach-giao-khoa-thong-nhat-b8f6206/