Who approves textbooks used in secondary schools in Vietnam?

Who approves textbooks used in secondary schools in Vietnam?

According to Article 18 of Circular 32/2020/TT-BGDDT regulations:

Textbooks, teaching equipment and reference documents

1. Textbooks used in secondary schools must be approved by the Minister of Education and Training; provincial People’s Committees shall select textbooks according to regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training. Secondary schools shall provide guidance on use of textbooks for their teachers and students as prescribed by law.

2. Teaching equipment used in secondary schools must be included in list of teaching equipment promulgated by the Ministry of Education and Training or required by general education curricula.

3. Secondary schools shall select and equip teaching equipment and reference documents supporting teaching and educational activities in compliance with regulations of the Minister of Education and Training.

Under the above regulations, textbooks used in secondary schools in Vietnam must be approved by the Minister of Education and Training;

The provincial People’s Committees shall select textbooks according to the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training. Secondary schools shall provide guidance on use of textbooks for their teachers and students as prescribed by law.

Thus, textbooks used in secondary schools in Vietnam are approved by the Minister of Education and Training.

Who approves textbooks used in secondary schools in Vietnam? (Internet image)

What are the regulations on textbooks used in secondary schools in Vietnam?

Article 32 of the Education Law 2019 provides regulations on textbooks used in secondary schools in Vietnam:

Textbooks of general education

1. Textbooks of general education are regulated as follows:

a) Textbooks must implement programmes of general education, concretizing the requirements on educational objectives and contents, on students’ quality and capacity as defined in programmes of general education; direct teaching methods and methods of assessing and evaluating education quality; contents and formats of textbooks shall not carry prejudices based on ethnicity, religion, profession, gender, age and social status; textbooks may be in the printed, Braille or electronic forms.

b) Each subject shall have one or several textbooks; implement private sector involvement in textbook compilation; textbook publication shall be in compliance with the law;

c) Provincial People’s Committees shall decide selection of textbooks for consistent use in institutions of general education in their localities as regulated by the Minister of Education and Training.

d) Local educational materials shall be designed by provincial People’s Committees to meet the needs and characteristics of their localities, be appraised by provincial review councils for appraising and approved by the Minister of Education and Training.

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Additionally, according to the regulation at point b, clause 2, Article 6 of the Education Law 2019, general education comprises primary education, lower secondary education, and upper secondary education (collectively referred to as secondary education).

Thus, textbooks used in secondary schools in Vietnam are specifically regulated as follows:

[1] Textbooks must implement the curriculum in secondary schools, containing all required content in the secondary education program regarding objectives, educational content, and requirements for students' qualities and capacities;

[2] The content in textbooks must clearly state direct teaching methods and methods of assessing and evaluating education quality;

[3] Contents and formats of textbooks shall not carry prejudices based on ethnicity, religion, profession, gender, age and social status;

[4] Textbooks may be in the printed, Braille or electronic forms;

[5] Each subject shall have one or several textbooks; implement private sector involvement in textbook compilation; textbook publication shall be in compliance with the law

[6] The Provincial People’s Committees shall decide selection of textbooks for consistent use in institutions of general education in their localities as regulated by the Minister of Education and Training.

Does the compilation and use of textbooks fall under state management of education in Vietnam?

According to Article 104 of the Education Law 2019, contents of state management of education are as follows:

Contents of state management of education

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4. Defining objectives, programmes and contents of education; the Vietnamese Qualifications Framework; teacher standards; standards and usage quota of school infrastructure and equipment; compilation, publication and use of textbooks and syllabi; examination, testing, admission, joint training and management of degrees/diplomas and certificates; recognition of degrees/diplomas issued by foreign educational institutions for use in Vietnam.

Stipulating the evaluation of education quality; organizing and managing education quality assurance and accreditation.

6. Conducting statistical and informing work on educational organisation and operation.

7. Organizing educational management apparatus.

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Thus, the compilation and use of syllabi and textbooks are included in the contents of state management of education.