Choose a superior textbook set from the existing book sets

The only reasonable option is to select one set of textbooks from the three existing sets, and then edit them accordingly.

Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW dated August 22, 2025 of the Politburo sets out the requirement to "ensure the provision of a unified set of textbooks nationwide, striving to provide free textbooks to all students by 2030".

A set of textbooks: Brings many benefits

The Government assigned the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) to review and complete the general education program, ensuring the provision of a unified set of textbooks nationwide for use from the 2026-2027 school year; and implementing a roadmap to provide free textbooks to all students by 2030.

Ms. Bui Thi An, a member of the 13th National Assembly, said that applying a unified set of textbooks means that all regions of Vietnam will enjoy the same education system. According to Ms. Bui Thi An, many opinions say that this will be difficult to reflect regional characteristics and local languages, however, this is necessary if we want all students in all regions of the country to have equal access to education. "We have many regions but Vietnam is one, so the educational foundation of the whole country must be guaranteed to be one. Therefore, the Resolution of the Politburo on unifying a program and a set of standard textbooks is a correct policy, bringing many benefits. The key issue now is how to choose a set of books that are truly standard, built on a scientific basis and have the consensus of experts" - Ms. Bui Thi An affirmed.

The "Connecting knowledge with life" series of the Vietnam Education Publishing House is chosen by many schools across the country. Photo: YEN ANH

Mr. Le Nhu Tien - former Vice Chairman of the Committee for Culture, Education, Youth, Adolescents and Children (now the Committee for Culture and Society) of the National Assembly - also said that in the past, we only had one set of textbooks for each level of education, which was appropriate and avoided waste, because in the same family, after finishing school, older siblings could pass them on to their younger siblings to continue studying. "The policy of using a unified set of textbooks in the coming time will both create uniformity and create savings.

In particular, in the future, when textbooks are provided free of charge to all students nationwide, using a common set of books can help the set of books be reused over the years, thereby saving the state budget," Mr. Le Nhu Tien affirmed.

According to Dr. Hoang Ngoc Vinh, former Director of the Department of Vocational Education, Ministry of Education and Training, each set of textbooks entails costs for printing, transportation, training, and even test development and question banks. Three sets mean tripling this burden. Meanwhile, a unified set will help the budget focus on more important things: teacher training, developing digital learning materials, and supporting students in disadvantaged areas.

Choose a book series with many advantages

Three sets of textbooks are being used and taught in the 2018 General Education Program in Vietnam, including: "Connecting knowledge with life", "Creative horizons" and "Kite". Of which, the two sets of textbooks "Connecting knowledge with life" and "Creative horizons" of the Vietnam Education Publishing House are being chosen by many teachers and students due to their consistent quality, close adherence to program requirements, ensuring scientific and pedagogical values ​​and suitability to age psychology. The sets of books of the Vietnam Education Publishing House are assessed to have inherited the advantages of previous sets of books, while updating new knowledge and advanced teaching methods. This helps ensure continuity and stability in the teaching and learning process.

Commenting on how the Ministry of Education and Training can provide a unified set of textbooks for nationwide use from the 2026-2027 school year, Dr. Hoang Ngoc Vinh said that writing a new set of textbooks within a year is impossible, and patching together is illogical. The only reasonable solution is to choose from the three existing sets, then make appropriate adjustments. This is the way to keep up with progress and reduce disruption to the classroom.

Ms. Bui Thi An believes that the Ministry of Education and Training can choose a set of textbooks based on the existing sets of books. "Applying a new set of books will not cause too many problems. Because the selection of this set of books is essentially based on the foundation of the sets of books that have been and are being used, only adjusting and supplementing to make them more complete, not creating "sudden" changes" - Ms. Bui Thi An emphasized. Sharing this view, Mr. Le Nhu Tien believes that we currently have three sets of books, so why not choose the best set of books to use nationwide? And to evaluate a set of superior books, no one knows best, but the teachers, those who have accessed the sets of books to choose and are directly teaching students.

Mr. Nguyen Ba Thuyen - National Assembly Delegate of the 12th and 13th terms - said that the textbooks have received many choices from schools, trust and positive reviews from teachers, and with good educational effectiveness for students, it is a suitable set of books for widespread deployment. According to many experts, Vietnam Education Publishing House is a state-owned enterprise, so it will help the state proactively control costs, progress and implement the policy of providing free textbooks by 2030. With the assigned tasks of Vietnam Education Publishing House, the supply of books will be stable and sustainable, not affected by the risk of dissolution or change of business strategy like private units.

Close to reality

According to Ms. Duong Thi Thanh, Principal of Lung Cu Primary Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities (Lung Cu Commune, Tuyen Quang Province), from the first year of implementing the selection of new textbooks according to the 2018 General Education Program, teachers unanimously chose the textbook set "Connecting knowledge with life".

Mr. Pham Duc Hang Phong, Principal of Ma Le Secondary Boarding School (Lung Cu Commune, Tuyen Quang Province), said that the textbook series "Connecting knowledge with life" was chosen by many educational institutions in Lung Cu because of its easy-to-understand content and connection with reality. Along with innovative teaching methods, this textbook series has helped students become more proactive, bolder, and develop better awareness and discipline.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/chon-mot-bo-sgk-uu-viet-tu-cac-bo-sach-hien-co-196251006205623055.htm