Priority for textbook quality assessment

Need to research and refer to international experience

Participating in the debate with National Assembly member Nguyen Thi Mai Hoa (Dong Thap delegation) on assigning the Ministry of Education and Training to preside over the compilation of a set of textbooks, National Assembly member Nguyen Thi Kim Thuy (Da Nang delegation) said that this National Assembly has the right to issue a Resolution with different content from Resolution 122, but she wondered whether it should do something that society has already done? and she emphasized: " Changing a major policy in the middle of the process is something that requires time to research, refer to international experience, and carefully assess the impact ." According to Ms. Thuy, while Appendix 7 is a summary of proposals and recommendations from the Government, ministries, and local branches, it is 35 pages with 282 contents. The Ministry of Education and Training alone has 114 contents. On page 26, serial number 208, there is a recommendation for the Ministry of Education and Training to preside over the compilation of a set of textbooks (for 2 localities).

“ I think that instead of the Ministry of Education and Training compiling a set of textbooks, the Ministry should focus on directing the compilation of textbooks for deaf and blind children, and textbooks teaching ethnic minority languages, which is urgent,” Ms. Thuy expressed her opinion. According to Ms. Thuy, in reality, there are still some opinions that “there must be a standard set of textbooks”. However, Ms. Thuy said that understanding like that is not in accordance with Resolution 88. According to this Resolution, whether or not the Ministry of Education and Training organizes the compilation of a set of textbooks, that set of textbooks must be assessed and approved fairly with textbooks compiled by other organizations and individuals.

“It is true that in the past, we only studied one set of textbooks and ate only cassava to become a good person. But each era is different, we cannot expect today to be like the past. Now, our children and grandchildren must eat well to improve their stature to stand shoulder to shoulder with the great powers of the five continents,” Ms. Thuy emphasized.

The Ministry of Education and Training gives priority to the assessment of textbook quality, image 1. — National Assembly Delegate Nguyen Thi Kim Thuy (Da Nang Delegation).

Will adding another set of textbooks solve the price problem?

Speaking on the sidelines of the National Assembly, National Assembly Deputy Nguyen Thi Viet Nga - Member of the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Education, Deputy Head of the Hai Duong Delegation of National Assembly Deputies, said that in recent days there have been many different opinions among those who research and develop laws, National Assembly deputies as well as public opinion, teachers and education managers.

“In my opinion, does the Ministry of Education and Training need to compile a set of textbooks? In my opinion, the Ministry needs to compile a set of textbooks. However, the Ministry of Education and Training does not need to compile another set of textbooks at the present time. Because, the number of textbooks at the present time of socialization also has a number of textbooks that have been assessed and qualified to be put into teaching,” Ms. Nga said.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Education and Training is currently overwhelmed with many different tasks to implement the 2018 general education program.

At the same time, he said that there are issues of great magnitude that must be resolved immediately, such as the shortage of teachers and urgent preparations for the 2024-2025 high school graduation exam, which is the first exam in the implementation of the 2018 general education program.

“Therefore, if the Ministry is required to immediately implement a set of textbooks at such a busy time, it will not be effective and difficult to implement. Therefore, the time for the Ministry of Education and Training to fully prepare all the very good foundations to implement this set of textbooks is not at the present time,” Ms. Nga emphasized.

Sharing the same view, National Assembly Deputy Truong Trong Nghia (HCMC delegation) stated that the policy of socializing textbooks is to exploit the intelligence and experience of experts, scholars, educational scientists, and teachers to compile textbooks to serve educational reform. At the same time, it mobilizes the economic potential of society.

According to the delegate, socialization is progressing so well that initially there will always be certain problems, and whatever problems there are, they must be fixed.

"Now, if we propose that the Ministry of Education and Training develop and compile a set of textbooks, will it solve the problems that are currently being raised? For example, the issue of price," delegate Nghia raised the issue.

If there is a problem with price, this problem can be solved by subsidizing or mobilizing resources to lend textbooks and support policy beneficiaries in remote areas.

"It's not that we can solve the problem by replacing it by "giving birth" to a set of State textbooks. What if we can't solve the problem?", Mr. Nghia wondered.

Priority for textbook quality assessment

Regarding the issue of textbooks that the National Assembly deputies are interested in, Minister Nguyen Kim Son said that in the Government's report on socio-economics, there is an assessment that "textbooks do not meet requirements" . This is an assessment that the Education sector identifies as a high demand and a great responsibility of the Government. Although many things have been done, there is still a need to do better and the Education sector is trying to do well.

The Ministry of Education and Training gives priority to the assessment of textbook quality, image 2. — Minister Nguyen Kim Son spoke to explain a number of issues of concern to National Assembly deputies.

Recently, the National Assembly Standing Committee supervised the implementation of innovation in general education programs and textbooks and in Supervision Resolution 686 noted: The system of textbooks and educational materials was compiled, reviewed, approved, printed and published basically on schedule, meeting teaching and learning requirements.

The content of textbooks closely follows the requirements of the new general education program, in line with the requirements for developing students' qualities and abilities; the compilation of textbooks has mobilized a large number of experts, scientists, and teachers with prestigious qualifications and experience, and from 2020 to now, 381 new textbooks have been published, with a total of 194 million copies. "Thus, this is a recognition of the efforts of the entire education sector, the teaching staff, and those involved in compiling books," Mr. Son stated.

Regarding the delegates' concern about the Resolution of the Supervisory Delegation related to the assignment of the Ministry of Education and Training to compile a set of textbooks, Mr. Son said: "I think that from now until 2024, the most 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, propose and try in the next 1-2 years when a cycle of innovation has been completed, we will have an in-depth assessment and present it to the National Assembly later."

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