Vietnam: What are the newest steps for compiling and revising the primary education textbooks?

What is a textbook in Vietnam?

Under Article 2 of the Regulation on the standards and procedures for the compilation and revision of textbooks; standards for textbook compilers and organization and operation of the National Textbook Appraisal Council issued together with Circular 33/2017/TT-BGDDT:

Definitions

For the purposes of this document, the terms below shall be construed as follow:

1. ”textbook” means a published material concretizing the requirements on educational objectives and contents, which are approved by the Ministry of Education and Training and allowed to be used as the official teaching materials at general education institutions.

2. ”sample textbook” means the complete draft of the textbook which has been revised, plated and printed out in the form of a book, on the first cover and the title page shall have the word “sample”.

A textbook means a published material concretizing the requirements on educational objectives and contents, which are approved by the Ministry of Education and Training and allowed to be used as the official teaching materials at general education institutions.

What are the principles of compiling textbooks in Vietnam?

The principles of compiling textbooks are specified in Article 3 of the Regulation on the standards and procedures for the compilation and revision of textbooks; standards for textbook compilers and organization and operation of the National Textbook Appraisal Council issued together with Circular 33/2017/TT-BGDDT as follows:

- Comply with the guidelines of the Communist Party of Vietnam and comply with the Constitution and laws of Vietnam.

- Specify targets, contents, methods of education and evaluation of general education results; ensure the transferability among different levels, subjects and educational activities.

- Be appropriate for conditions of Vietnam and consistent with the global trends in education, and ensure the interests of students.

What is a textbook? What are the principles of compiling textbooks in Vietnam? (Image from the Internet)

What are the newest steps for compiling and revising the primary education textbooks in Vietnam?

According to Clause 1, Article 9 of the Regulation on the standards and procedures for the compilation and revision of textbooks; standards for textbook compilers and organization and operation of the National Textbook Appraisal Council issued together with Circular 33/2017/TT-BGDDT (amended and supplemented by Clause 2, Article 1 of Circular 05/2022/TT-BGDDT):

(1) Process for compiling primary education textbooks

Step 1: The organization or individual compiling the textbook selects authors who meet the standards specified in Article 11 of Circular 33/2017/TT-BGDDT; the authors study the general education program issued by the Minister of Education and Training to prepare an overall outline, detailed outline, and compilation plan; assign tasks to the chief reviseor, reviseor-in-chief (if the book has both), and authors to ensure alignment with the workload and completion timelines to ensure the quality and progress of the textbook draft;

Step 2: The organization or individual compiles, revises, designs, and illustrates at least one lesson, organizes experimental teaching, collects feedback after the experimental teaching to complete the lesson with participation and consensus of all authors before compiling other lessons; orchestrates the compilation, revising, designing, illustrating, experimental teaching, and collection of feedback from teachers, educational managers, scientists, and educators knowledgeable in general education to evaluate the textbook draft according to the content of various clauses specified in Articles 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 of Circular 33/2017/TT-BGDDT (specific requirements according to the Textbook Evaluation Criteria attached to this Circular); complete the textbook draft and submit it to the Ministry of Education and Training for evaluation;

Step 3: The Ministry of Education and Training organizes the evaluation of the textbook draft as stipulated in Chapter 4 of Circular 33/2017/TT-BGDDT;

Step 4: The organization or individual refines the textbook draft after evaluation;

Step 5: The Minister of Education and Training approves and allows the use of the textbook;

Step 6: The organization or individual compiling textbooks shall organize the publication and distribution of textbooks under the provisions of law.

(2) Process for revising the primary education textbooks

- During use, textbooks may need to be revised;

- The process for revising textbooks follows the same process as for compiling textbooks specified in Clause 1, Article 9 of the regulations issued together with Circular 33/2017/TT-BGDDT (amended by Clause 2, Article 1 of Circular 05/2022/TT-BGDDT) except for the requirement of textbook experimental teaching. The Minister of Education and Training decides if experimental teaching is needed for revised textbooks.

Note: The Minister of Education and Training decides specifically the process for compiling and revising textbooks using state budget funds.