THE MORE SOCIALIZATION, THE MORE BOOK PRICES INCREASE
Previously, in the discussion session on the afternoon of October 31, delegate Nguyen Thi Mai Hoa (Dong Thap delegation, Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Education) expressed the view that the Ministry of Education and Training needs to compile a set of textbooks. Ms. Hoa cited Resolution 88/2014 of the National Assembly, saying that this is the "original resolution", clearly stating the task of compiling a set of textbooks of the Ministry of Education and Training. Ms. Hoa said that the Ministry of Education and Training compiling books will both ensure the initiative in textbook sources in all situations and demonstrate the state's responsibility for this work.
Moving on to yesterday's debate, delegate Tran Van Sau (Dong Thap delegation) agreed with delegate Hoa, and said that in 2014 the National Assembly issued Resolution 88/2014, and in 2020 it issued Resolution 122/2020. During those 6 years, the Ministry of Education and Training did not organize the compilation of a set of textbooks but pushed all the book compilation to socialization, leading to a floating textbook market and uncontrolled price increases.
There are still many controversial opinions surrounding whether the Ministry of Education and Training should compile a set of textbooks.
Although he supports the policy of calling for socialization, Mr. Sau believes that the state needs to play a leading role in education. "Socializing textbooks is right, but it should be at an appropriate level. Socialization should not be turned into commercialization," he said.
The Dong Thap delegate raised a paradox that other sectors, when socialized, will reduce product costs, but the more socialized textbooks are, the more their prices will increase, and there is no basis to guarantee that textbook prices will not continue to increase. This is contrary to Resolution 122/2020 on the state's obligation to ensure that textbooks are suitable for socio-economic conditions and people's incomes, because currently "wherever people meet voters, they complain about increasing textbook prices".
Delegate Tran Van Sau emphasized: "Socializing textbooks is right but should be at an appropriate level, we should not turn socialization into commercialization."
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING COMPILING BOOKS, WILL THE PRICES GO DOWN?
On the other hand, delegate Nguyen Thi Kim Thuy (Da Nang delegation) cited the Law on Promulgation of Legal Documents, and said that there is no concept of "original resolution", nor is there any distinction between levels of resolutions of the National Assembly. "Regardless of what delegate Hoa considers Resolution 122/2020 to be, relevant organizations and individuals must still organize the implementation of this resolution," Ms. Thuy said.
According to Ms. Thuy, Clause 3, Article 156 of the Law on Promulgation of Legal Documents states that in cases where documents issued by the same agency have different regulations on the same issue, the regulations in the later document shall apply. Furthermore, the 2019 Education Law only stipulates the socialization of textbook compilation but does not stipulate that the Ministry of Education and Training must compile a set of textbooks. "May I ask if the Education Law is the original legal document?", Ms. Thuy asked.
The female delegate said that this National Assembly has the right to issue a resolution with different content from Resolution 122/2020, "but should we do something that society has already done", because changing a policy in the middle requires time for research, reference to international experience, and careful impact assessment". She suggested that instead of organizing the compilation of a set of textbooks, the Ministry of Education and Training should focus on directing the compilation of textbooks for visually impaired, hearing impaired children, and textbooks for ethnic minority children, this is more urgent.
Meanwhile, delegate Truong Trong Nghia (HCMC delegation) analyzed two goals when implementing the policy of socializing textbooks: first and more importantly, is to take advantage of the brainpower and intelligence of experts, scholars, scientists, and teachers in the field of book compilation; second, is to mobilize the economic potential of society. According to him, not only textbooks, any field when initially socialized can have deviations, "but wherever there is a deviation, we will fix it".
Mr. Nghia hypothesized that if the Ministry of Education and Training were to compile a set of textbooks, would it be able to solve the problems, including the issue of book prices? "If we think there is a problem with prices, we can solve it by mobilizing textbook lending and supporting books for remote areas, not by creating another set of state textbooks. If we do it but cannot solve it, how will we handle it?", the delegate stated his opinion.
Delegate Nguyen Thi Kim Thuy suggested that instead of organizing the compilation of a set of textbooks, the Ministry of Education and Training should focus on directing the compilation of textbooks for visually impaired and hearing impaired children, and textbooks for ethnic minority children. This is more urgent.
WILL PROPOSE THE PLAN TO THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Explaining and receiving opinions from delegates, Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son cited the content of the Government's report on socio-economics, stating that textbooks have not met requirements. According to the Minister, this is a very high and responsible requirement of the Government; although important things have been done, the education sector will still have to do better.
However, Mr. Son also noted that the National Assembly's supervisory resolution on curriculum and textbook innovation has acknowledged that the system of textbooks and educational materials has been compiled, reviewed, approved, printed and published on schedule, meeting teaching and learning needs. The content of textbooks closely follows the requirements of the new general education program, in line with the requirements for developing students' abilities and qualities.
Regarding the request for the Ministry of Education and Training to compile a set of textbooks, Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son said that there will be research, proposals and efforts in the next 1-2 years. When the textbook innovation cycle is completed, there will be an in-depth assessment and a proposal to the National Assembly later.
The compilation of textbooks also mobilized a large number of experts, scientists, and teachers with qualifications, prestige, and experience. From 2020 to now, 381 new textbooks have been published with a total of 194 million copies. "This is a recognition, an effort for the entire education sector, the teaching staff, and those involved in compiling books," said Mr. Son.
Regarding the debate on assigning the Ministry of Education and Training to compile a set of state textbooks, Minister Nguyen Kim Son said that from now until 2024, the important priority is to assess the quality of textbooks for grades 5, 9, and 12 very well, ensuring enough textbooks before the new school year. "As for the assigned issue, we will research and propose and try in the next 1-2 years, when the textbook innovation cycle is completed, we will have an in-depth assessment and propose a plan to the National Assembly later," said Mr. Son.
Notably, the Minister of Education and Training also answered the concerns of delegates about the figure of 213,449 billion VND spent on educational innovation. According to the head of the education and training sector, this amount includes both regular expenses and development investment expenses. Of which, direct expenses for educational innovation, including the compilation of the new general education program in 2018, textbook appraisal, and training for teachers nationwide, only cost 395.2 billion VND.
Will adjust salary and benefits for teachers
Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son said that up to now, the whole country still lacks 127,583 teachers; "this number is constantly increasing, because at the beginning of the last school year alone, the number of students increased a lot," according to Mr. Son.
Not only is there a shortage, the situation of teachers quitting their jobs continues. By September, 17,278 teachers nationwide had quit or changed jobs. "Last year, together with the Ministry of Home Affairs, we determined the target for provinces to recruit teachers to be more than 26,000. However, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the provinces still have 64,000 unused quotas," Mr. Son said, adding that the reason was that some places had reserved 10% of the staff as required, while others did not have the resources to recruit.
The Minister cited the example of preschool teachers, many provinces recruited but had no applicants because of the pressure of the job and low salary. "That is also a very big problem that we need to find a solution for," Mr. Son stated, adding that in addition to preparing recruitment sources, it is also necessary to adjust salaries, regimes, policies, public housing, preferential allowances for teachers and other synchronous solutions.
"Recently, the education sector has also rearranged the school system for 3 consecutive years, reducing 3,033 schools, a very significant number to be able to take better care of and educate children. But that is also a solution, we cannot keep increasing this arrangement and also hope that in the coming time, the provinces will pay attention to transferring all the quotas," the minister shared.
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