After Thanh Nien Newspaper published information about the price of textbooks for grades 4, 8, and 11 being up to 3 times higher than the price of textbooks according to the old program, a representative of the Vietnam Education Publishing House (NXBGDVN) had a discussion to explain this issue.
According to the explanation of the Vietnam Education Publishing House, the new book prices are higher due to increased costs in the stages that make up the selling price of a new set of textbooks, including: the number of books in a set; costs of organizing the manuscript; costs of materials, printing costs and marketing costs.
So what should be done to reduce the financial burden at the beginning of the new school year for parents in buying textbooks?
Textbook lending
According to the Resolution of the 3rd session of the 15th National Assembly in June 2022, textbooks will be added to the list of goods and services priced by the State when the Law on Prices is amended. While waiting for the law to be amended, the Government directs relevant ministries to take measures to reduce textbook prices in accordance with economic and social conditions.
In the afternoon session of June 21, 2022, former Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam chaired a meeting with the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Finance, the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Education... on issues related to textbooks. At that time, Mr. Dam requested the Ministry of Education and Training to coordinate with ministries and branches to study plans to use the state budget to buy textbooks and put them in school libraries for students to borrow.
The State's policy of using the budget to buy textbooks for students to borrow is a practical and humane way to help parents and students.
In fact, in the past 3 years, since the 2019-2022 school year, the Covid-19 pandemic has devastated and caused severe damage to all aspects of people's lives. Although the pandemic has passed and life has gradually stabilized, the lives of the majority of people still face many difficulties after the pandemic. Therefore, there is no reason for people to have to shoulder more difficulties.
Rising textbook prices are a concern for parents at the beginning of the new school year.
In the past, during the subsidy period, the economy was difficult but the State always paid attention to education, all of us students went to school and shared books borrowed from the library without having to buy books. Although each period was different, the attention to students, learning, and education always remained unchanged regardless of the circumstances.
In order for borrowed books to be used for a long time, it is necessary for schools to first educate students to be aware of taking care of books and not to write or draw on them. At the end of the year, schools should consider praising and rewarding students who know how to take care of and use books effectively and consider this a criterion for evaluating student conduct that needs to be promoted and maintained regularly.
Socialization of textbooks
In addition to the State budget for buying books, schools should mobilize individuals, organizations, unions, businesses, etc. to support funding to have more books for more students to borrow; launch a movement to support books for the library, etc.
We can also socialize the shared bookshelf among parents and students. For parents who have the means to participate in contributing books to share with students in more difficult circumstances to benefit from the socialized bookshelf.
Next, the school needs to consider a plan to purchase textbooks used in previous school years from parents and students.
At the year-end ceremony and awards ceremony, the school can give out textbooks to help students have books to study.
The price of new textbooks has always been a "hot" issue since the implementation of curriculum and textbook innovation until now.
We have many textbooks approved by the Ministry of Education and Training. Therefore, the Ministry of Education and Training needs to build a program with long-term stability and avoid changes in a short time.
Textbooks need to have a certain lifespan, not much change in content, if any, only to supplement and update the progress of science and technology, the development of society, avoiding having to buy new books to study as well as when moving from one school to another, one locality to another.
Suggest a way to save on textbooks
The school has a plan to enroll a certain number of students, so it must be responsible for preparing enough books for 1 student/1 set of books, and the student must pay 30-40% of the price of the book set. At the end of the school year, the books must be returned to the school for the next year's students to use. Any student who damages, dirties, or tears a book must pay the cover price. The school can collect money from the student in advance, and at the end of the year, return the book, refund the excess money, or collect extra money for the next year's book set if the student continues to study at the school.
After about 4 years (the life of the books), the school has collected enough money with bank interest to renew the cycle. Doing so has many benefits. Students do not have to worry about books, reducing costs and creating a habit of keeping books clean and beautiful to save money for themselves.
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