The Ministry of Education will publish electronic textbooks.

According to the Ministry of Education and Training, the Government has assigned the Ministry of Education and Training to develop the program and compile textbooks from the 2002-2003 school year, ensuring compliance with legal regulations.

The current practice of only publishing and distributing textbooks by the Vietnam Education Publishing House creates concerns about a closed monopoly in all stages from compilation to distribution, not promoting competition to improve the quality of textbooks.

Illustration: Internet

At the same time, in the list of textbooks published by the Vietnam Education Publishing House for students, there are many documents that are not textbooks for sale. These documents are actually supplementary and reference books to support students in the process of studying the current general education program. However, because the Vietnam Education Publishing House publishes textbooks without clear instructions, educational institutions understand that these are "exercise textbooks" that students must buy like textbooks.

Regarding future orientation, the National Assembly's policy is to socialize the compilation of textbooks in accordance with countries with advanced education systems...

The Ministry of Education and Training has directed the preparation of guidance documents and training plans for organizations and individuals participating in textbook compilation.

According to the National Assembly's regulations, the Ministry of Education and Training will preside over the compilation of a set of textbooks. After compilation, the set of textbooks chaired by the Ministry will be publicly announced, including the e-book version for teachers and students to use widely and equally.

To ensure equal competition between textbooks (printed books) compiled by the Ministry of Education and Training and other textbooks, the Ministry will preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance to submit to the Government a specific plan on textbook prices.

When compiling new textbooks, the Ministry of Education and Training will require publishers to participate in making textbooks and Departments of Education and Training to guide and train teachers on how to use books so that students are aware of preserving and maintaining them, ensuring that textbooks are used many times and avoiding waste.

Regarding the selection of textbooks in general education institutions, to ensure healthy competition and avoid monopoly when there are many textbooks, the Ministry of Education and Training is developing a Circular to guide the selection of textbooks in general education institutions in the direction of giving the right to choose to general education institutions based on the wishes of students and parents... There are sanctions to strictly handle acts that violate the right to choose of students and parents.