Is it not mandatory to use textbooks compiled by the Ministry of Education and Training?

Pham Mai• January 18, 2018 22:21

The Ministry of Education and Training is preparing to announce the draft curriculum of subjects and educational activities in the new general education program to collect public opinions.

The program is expected to be implemented nationwide from the 2019-2020 school year for grade 1 of primary school, from the 2020-2021 school year for grade 6 of middle school and from the 2021-2022 school year for grade 10 of high school.

Illustration photo.

Below are some differences between the new general education program and the current program.

There will be more textbooks

The current education program has only one set of official textbooks nationwide from grade 1 to grade 12, developed by the Ministry of Education and Training and exclusively published by the Education Publishing House.

However, according to Resolution 29 on comprehensive fundamental innovation of education, organizations and individuals with capacity can participate in writing textbooks. The choice of which books will be decided by students, parents and teachers. Schools do not have to choose a whole set but they can choose many books from different sets.

Currently, the Ministry of Education and Training is preparing a circular regulating standards for organizations and individuals writing textbooks, the process of compiling, appraising, and testing books, and the organization and operation of the book appraisal council.

The Ministry of Education and Training will still draft a set of textbooks to ensure that students and teachers have access to them. However, this set of textbooks is not legally required.

Three years of career-oriented education

The new general education program turns three years of junior high school into a career orientation period with many innovations compared to the current program.

Accordingly, at this level, there are only 5 compulsory subjects instead of all 13 subjects as at present. The compulsory subjects include Mathematics, Literature, Foreign Language, Physical Education, National Defense and Security Education.

The subjects chosen are divided into three groups. The social science group includes History, Geography, Economic and Legal Education. The natural science group includes Physics, Chemistry, Biology. The technology and arts group includes Technology, Information Technology, and Arts. Students choose 5 subjects from the chosen subjects, at least one subject from each group.

In addition, this level of education also has some other compulsory contents such as career guidance experience activities, compulsory study topics (three topics), and local education programs.

New subject appears: Experiential activities

Experiential activities in primary school and career guidance activities in middle and high school are completely new content in the general education program that is about to be implemented.

The basic content of this program revolves around the relationships between individual students and themselves, between students and others, the community and society; between students and the environment; and between students and their careers.

This content is implemented through four main groups of activities: personal development activities, labor activities, social activities and community service, and career guidance activities. Students rely on the synthesis of knowledge and skills from many different educational fields to experience real life under the guidance and organization of teachers.

This activity helps to form key qualities, general competencies and some specific component competencies such as the ability to design and organize activities, career orientation competencies, the ability to adapt to changes in life and other life skills./.