It is correct to give schools the right to choose textbooks.

4 years, 3 changes

In the first year of applying the 2018 General Education Program, grade 1 textbooks were selected according to the provisions of Resolution 88 to meet the needs of the 2020-2021 school year. Specifically, educational institutions have the authority to select textbooks for use based on the opinions of teachers, students and parents. However, this is only done for one year.

After the 2019 Education Law took effect in July 2020, the Ministry of Education and Training issued Circular No. 25 to replace the previous Circular No. 01 on textbook selection to comply with the provisions of the law. Accordingly, the textbook selection council is established by the provincial People's Committee. The provincial People's Committee approves the list of textbooks based on the selection results of this council.

But from the actual implementation, the monitoring delegation of the National Assembly Standing Committee determined that the regulations on selecting general education textbooks in Circular 25 of the Ministry of Education and Training are not strict.

The different implementation methods in different localities have led to many places being slow to announce results, affecting the supply of textbooks for the new school year. The method of selecting textbooks according to Circular 25 also creates loopholes that can lead to profiteering and unhealthy competition among textbook suppliers.

However, the biggest drawback revealed by the above textbook selection regulation is that the people who directly use textbooks are teachers, while students do not have the right to choose textbooks. Giving the right to choose textbooks to a few people (provincial councils) makes the selection impractical and inconsistent with the wishes of teachers and students.

This leads to the third change in textbook selection. Circular 27/2023/TT-BGD-DT has just been issued, returning the right to choose textbooks to schools.

The heads of educational institutions have the authority to establish a textbook selection council with sufficient members: leaders of the educational institution, heads of professional groups, teachers, and representatives of parents. The chairman of the council is the principal/director of the continuing education center and will be responsible for the implementation and explanation of the institution's textbook selection.

The mindset of choosing textbooks will be different.

Teacher Nguyen Xuan Khang, chairman of the education council of Marie Curie School (Hanoi), said that the textbooks approved by the Minister of Education and Training all ensure quality for use in teaching and learning. Therefore, the choice of textbooks and delivery to schools is appropriate.

"The teaching staff directly teaching have the ability to choose textbooks for students and themselves and can take responsibility for that proposal. So it is right to leave it to schools to choose, take responsibility and explain", Mr. Khang shared and said that with this adjustment, the time for choosing textbooks may be shortened, helping to print and supply textbooks more proactively. In addition, when given greater responsibility, teachers' awareness of researching textbooks and teaching materials also has positive changes.

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Binh, principal of Luong The Vinh Secondary and High School (Hanoi), said that the assignment to schools is in line with practical requirements. Because each school has different conditions (facilities, teacher qualifications, student capacity). With the 2018 General Education Program, the autonomy of schools is also enhanced in developing school education plans. Therefore, it is necessary for schools to decide on their own use of textbooks.

In fact, although Circular 25 previously only regulated the selection of textbooks by provincial councils, some localities such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hai Phong have established textbook selection councils and implemented the same process as the newly issued circular, submitting the results to provincial councils. Many teachers said that their opinions were basically listened to. However, because it was not "official", there were still delays, lack of rigor, and lack of transparency in this place and that place.

A principal of a secondary school in Hai Ba Trung district (Hanoi) shared: Previously, the research, comments and recommendations on textbook selection also went from teachers, subject groups to the school principals, and then sent the textbook selection proposal to the city council. However, because the authority belonged to the provincial council, the responsibility of schools and teachers was not high.

Many people have the mentality of "just make a proposal, but who knows if the council will listen or choose" so they do it just for the sake of it. But when it comes to the school, it is directly related to the teacher's work, so the mindset will be different.

However, there are still concerns. According to the principal, the new circular stipulates that the responsibility for explaining the results of textbook selection belongs to the school-level textbook selection council. But in case the selection list is submitted and a higher level vetoes the change, is the higher level responsible for explaining it? There are also opinions that including parents in the council is unreasonable because parents do not have expertise, so it is difficult to have a valid opinion...

New regulations on textbook selection

According to the new circular, the principal of a general school/director of a continuing education center decides to establish a textbook selection council with an odd number of members, at least 11 people. In case the school has less than 10 classes, the minimum council members are 5 people.

The members of the textbook selection council include the head or deputy head of the school or continuing education center, the head of the professional group, the subject teacher, and the representative of the students' parents. Those whose biological parents or parents-in-law, or biological siblings or siblings-in-law participate in compiling textbooks will not be selected to be on the textbook selection council...

Ensuring democratic principles

According to Mr. Nguyen Xuan Thanh - Director of the Secondary Education Department (Ministry of Education and Training), the unit that drafted the new circular, giving the right to choose textbooks to school-level managers, teachers, and parents is reasonable, ensuring the principle of democracy. The role of parents' representatives participating to witness and give comments ensures an objective textbook selection process. Mr. Thanh also said that the new circular must still ensure compliance with the Law on Education, so based on the results of textbook selection by educational institutions, the provincial People's Committee still approves the list of textbook selections in the locality.