No student should be left without books.

(Baonghean) - Faced with the situation of many primary and secondary schools in mountainous districts lacking textbooks, the Department of Education and Training recently issued công văn (official document) No. 1643/SGDĐT-GDTH "requesting the District Departments of Education and Training to instruct schools to check, review, and supplement textbooks for primary school students."

Although the new school year has been underway for more than half a month, many primary and secondary schools in the mountainous district of Tuong Duong are still facing a severe shortage of textbooks. For example, Tam Hop Primary School, with 235 students, currently only has enough textbooks for about 50; Mai Son Primary School, with 268 students, initially lacks 180 sets of textbooks, mainly for students in grades 2 to 4.

Students at Ky Son Ethnic Boarding Junior High School read books during recess. Photo:Le Thi Thanh Huong(Kỳ Sơn District Ethnic Boarding Junior High School)

Not only primary schools but also many secondary schools are currently facing a shortage of textbooks for their students. According to Mr. Vo Anh Tuan, Principal of Tam Hop Secondary School, in the 2015-2016 school year, the school had 154 students, but the number of textbooks available is only enough for just over 10% of them. Nearly 90% of the remaining students still do not have textbooks. According to a survey by Yen Thang Secondary School, 209 students still lack textbooks, a rate of nearly 90%.

Not only Tuong Duong district, but other mountainous districts such as Que Phong and Ky Son are also experiencing a shortage of textbooks for students in primary and secondary schools. Other mountainous districts like Con Cuong and Quy Chau, although still having enough textbooks, are relying on a large number of torn and damaged books due to prolonged use.

According to many school leaders, the reasons for this situation are that parents have not paid enough attention to purchasing textbooks for their children. In addition, the curriculum is constantly changing, so the old textbooks are no longer relevant. Meanwhile, the annual budget allocated to schools for supplementary textbook purchases is too small compared to the actual needs, failing to compensate for the shortage and damage of textbooks.

To address the textbook shortage, primary and secondary schools in mountainous districts have established libraries where students can borrow books. In addition, teachers at these schools are also seeking support and donations to supplement the book supply needed at their schools.

On September 15th, the Nghe An Department of Education and Training issued Official Document No. 1643/SGDĐT-GDTH “requesting the inspection, review, and supplementation of textbooks for primary school students.” Accordingly, the Department requested the District Departments of Education and Training to direct primary schools to review the current state of textbook use at the beginning of the school year according to the “List of minimum textbooks for each student” (grades 1, 2, and 3 each have 6 textbooks; grades 4 and 5 each have 9 textbooks) and encourage parents to purchase the minimum required textbooks for their children from the beginning of the school year.

For students from impoverished households or those in particularly difficult circumstances, the Departments of Education and Training will report to and advise the People's Committees of districts, cities, and towns to use contingency funds to purchase and provide additional textbooks for school libraries so that these students can borrow and use them.

In more affluent areas, primary schools encourage students to donate books and notebooks to support students in particularly disadvantaged areas, embodying the spirit of "mutual support." The Department also requires primary schools to focus on building libraries and shared book collections using funds from social mobilization and legitimate sources, ensuring that students from poor households and those under social welfare policies have textbooks from the beginning of the school year. Under no circumstances should these students be left without textbooks.

Tho Son