According to the opinion of the Minister of Finance Ho Duc Phoc, textbooks are a commodity with limited market competition, greatly affecting people's lives.
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| Delegate Nguyen Thi Kim Thuy discussed a number of issues about textbooks. |
On the afternoon of May 23, the National Assembly discussed a number of contents with different opinions in the draft Law on Prices (amended).
Regarding the issue of textbook prices, Delegate Nguyen Thi Kim Thuy (Da Nang delegation) said that when discussing textbook prices previously, she mentioned the fact that buying textbooks has become a burden for many parents.
The main reason is that book publishers through schools always sell textbooks with a large number of reference books.
Delegate Kim Thuy welcomed the Ministry of Education and Training for accepting this opinion to issue a directive requiring an end to the situation of "packaging textbooks and reference books together to force students to buy reference books in any form". Ms. Thuy said that through monitoring the situation, the directive has basically been seriously implemented.
However, according to Delegate Thi Kim Thuy, at the 4th session, during the discussion session, it was proposed that the Law on Prices (amended) assign the Government to regulate the price of textbooks in the form of a price frame including maximum and minimum prices as for other items priced by the State. Minister of Finance, Head of the Drafting Committee Ho Duc Phoc at that time spoke before the National Assembly to accept this opinion.
However, when studying the draft law submitted to the National Assembly for consideration and approval, it did not reflect the accepted opinion. The drafting committee also did not explain this opinion.
The female delegate also analyzed that the regulations in Resolution No. 29 of the Party Central Committee and Resolution No. 88 of the National Assembly on innovation of the general education textbook program stipulate the socialization of textbook compilation.
However, the 2019 revised Law on Education shows a different view from Resolution 88 when it does not give the right to choose textbooks to educational institutions but to provincial People's Committees.
Therefore, Ms. Thuy suggested that in case the National Assembly finds that the policy of socializing the compilation of textbooks proposed by the 13th National Assembly has many shortcomings, Resolution 88 should be amended to end the implementation of this policy.
In the opposite case, the National Assembly should add necessary provisions to the Law on Prices to ensure consistency in policy. Delegate Nguyen Thi Kim Thuy suggested that it is necessary to explain and clarify opinions related to textbook prices.
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Explaining later, Finance Minister Ho Duc Phoc said that after reporting to the Finance and Budget Committee and the National Assembly Standing Committee, all agencies agreed not to regulate the floor price of textbooks, only the ceiling price, to ensure the rights of book buyers, students and parents.
According to the Ministry of Finance, textbooks are a commodity with limited market competition, greatly affecting people's lives. Previously, this commodity was proposed by the Ministry of Education and Training to be added to the list of commodities priced by the State and the Resolution of the 3rd session of the 15th National Assembly also agreed in principle.
While waiting for the law to be amended, the Government directs relevant ministries to take measures to reduce textbook prices in accordance with socio-economic conditions; continue to implement policies to support or subsidize textbooks for students in difficult circumstances, mountainous areas, highlands, and ethnic minorities.
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