Vietnam: What are the regulations for the contents of primary education textbooks?

What are the regulations for the contents of primary education textbooks in Vietnam?

Under Article 5 of the Regulations on the standards and procedures for development and revision of textbooks; standards for textbook developers; organization and operation of National Textbook Assessment Councils issued with Circular 33/2017/TT-BGDDT, the content of primary education textbooks must meet the following conditions:

- The contents of textbooks must present accurately and adequately the contents of the subject’s program or the educational activity; ensure the basic, scientific and practical characteristics and be consistent with the reality of Vietnam.

- The terms, concepts, definitions, figures, events, images used in textbooks shall be accurate, objective, consistent and suitable for students’ ages; the cited figures, events, images shall have clear sources.

- New scientific achievements relating to the subject's program, educational activities shall be updated on the textbook to meet the requirements of international integration and the objectives of the subject’s program and educational activity.

- The contents of national sovereignty, human rights, children’s rights, gender equality, sustainable development, environment protection, adaptation to climate change shall be presented properly.

What are the regulations for the contents of primary education textbooks in Vietnam? (Image from the Internet)

Who approves primary education textbooks in Vietnam?

Under Article 18 of the Charter of Primary Schools issued with Circular 28/2020/TT-BGDDT, the provisions are as follows:

Textbooks, teaching equipment, reference materials, and local educational materials

1. Primary schools use textbooks approved by the Minister of Education and Training and selected by the Provincial People's Committee for use in the teaching and learning process in Primary schools in the area; teachers and students use textbooks in teaching and learning activities to achieve the objectives, content, and requirements of students' qualities and competencies as stipulated in the elementary education curriculum; Primary schools must promptly and fully provide information about the textbooks used at the school for students and their families to know.

2. Teaching equipment used in the school must comply with the list of minimum teaching equipment issued by the Ministry of Education and Training and other teaching equipment prescribed by the general education curriculum.

3. The school organizes the selection and equipping of reference publications for teaching and research activities of teachers as prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Training; teachers are encouraged to use reference publications to improve the quality of education. No organization or individual is permitted to compel students to buy reference materials.

4. Local educational materials are compiled and appraised under the direction of the Provincial People's Committee to meet the needs and characteristics of the locality, adhering to the objectives and content of the elementary education program, and are approved by the Minister of Education and Training.

Therefore, primary education textbooks are approved by the Minister of Education and Training.

Who selects primary education textbooks in Vietnam?

According to Clause 1, Article 32 of the Law on Education 2019 on general education textbooks:

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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Article 18 of the Charter of Primary Schools issued with Circular 28/2020/TT-BGDDT also provides regulations on the selection and use of textbooks in the teaching and learning process in primary schools.

Under the regulations of the Minister of Education and Training, the Provincial People's Committee decides the selection of textbooks for stable use in general education institutions within the province.