How is the supply of textbooks for the new school year?

Parents and students choose to buy textbooks according to the school's catalog at Phuong Nam bookstore system - Photo: MY DUNG

Vietnam Education Publishing House has two complete sets of textbooks from grades 1 to 12, including Connecting knowledge with life and Creative horizons. Talking to Tuoi Tre, a representative of this publishing house said that as of August 14, printing and warehousing had been completed, and distribution to students of all grades had reached 96.1% of the plan, equivalent to 168.4 million copies of books.

For books for grades 5, 9, and 12, as they were newly printed this year, there is a shortage compared to other titles. The system has worked with book suppliers to replenish supplies in time to serve the peak season before the school year.

Ms. PHAM THI HOA (Deputy General Director of Fahasa)

Many book supply lines

Previously, Mr. Nguyen Van Tung - Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Vietnam Education Publishing House - said that nearly 100% of reprinted books (grades 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11) were completed printing and put into storage from the beginning of August 2024. Only books for grades 5, 9, 12, which were first deployed this school year, were slower due to having to wait for the book selection process of localities.

But in early August 2024, the publishing house representative said that they had supplied about 90% of the plan. The need for parents to have new books early for parents and children to read in advance, preparing for the school year has been largely met.

The Canh Dieu textbook series (University of Education Publishing House, Hue University Publishing House and Ho Chi Minh City University of Education Publishing House in collaboration with Vietnam Education Equipment and Publishing Investment Joint Stock Company - VEPIC) also appeared in retail stores earlier than previous years.

There are many ways to supply textbooks. These include selling in bulk to schools that order for parents, retailing at stores that are members of the publishing house, and bookstores nationwide.

Responding to the complaints of parents who could not buy the full set of textbooks, the representative of Vietnam Education Publishing House explained: Currently, there are many textbooks according to the 2018 General Education Program published by different units and the number of orders depends on the book selection needs of localities and schools. Therefore, small retail stores do not grasp the exact needs and do not dare to import enough books.

Some stores only import Vietnamese books (elementary), literature (secondary) and math books, but not other subjects, so parents cannot find the full set of books they need.

Cover price reduction compared to last year

This year, all textbooks have had their cover prices adjusted down compared to last year. According to Mr. Nguyen Van Tung, the reprinted books of the textbook series Connecting Knowledge with Life have had their cover prices reduced by 9.6%, and the Creative Horizons series has had its cover prices reduced by 11.2%. For books for grades 5, 9, and 12 published for the first time this school year, the Vietnam Education Publishing House has completed the price declaration according to the reduced price structure as for reprinted books.

The Education Publishing House also donated 1,000 shared textbook cabinets to secondary schools and school locations in disadvantaged areas nationwide. On average, each province has 15 shared textbook cabinets, each containing about 90 sets of textbooks and 6 sets of teachers' books from grades 6 to 8 according to the 2018 General Education Program. At the same time, about 30,000 sets of textbooks and 2,000 sets of teachers' books were donated to the shared primary school bookcases. The total value of donated books is about 21 billion VND.

The publisher of the Canh Dieu textbook series also announced a 20% discount on the cover price for the Department of Education and Training when purchasing books for school libraries. The above price is also applied to individuals and organizations that buy books to donate to libraries for students to use together.

This unit also has a policy of discounting textbooks from grades 1 to 12 for students in difficult circumstances when buying books at school (including cases of buying individual books or the entire set of textbooks).

Parents buy books for their children at a bookstore in Hanoi - Photo: VINH HA

Local textbook shortage

On August 15, Tuoi Tre reporters noted that some bookstores and schools in Ho Chi Minh City were experiencing a shortage of new textbooks printed this year for grades 5, 9 and 12. At the Fahasa bookstore system, textbooks were the most requested item on August 15.

"I wanted to buy my child the Creative Horizons set for grade 5, but the bookstore was temporarily out of stock," said Ms. My, a parent in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.

At this bookstore system, textbooks such as 5th grade lesson textbooks and complete workbooks (Creative Horizons) are temporarily out of stock. At the elementary level, some individual books of 5th grade Creative Horizons, Connecting Knowledge with Life, and Kite are also out of stock. For 9th and 12th grade books, some books are also missing. For example, 9th grade textbooks in Creative Horizons are missing math book 1, 12th grade textbooks are also missing math book 1...

The shortage of textbooks also occurred in some schools that ordered books from the School Books and Equipment Company.

Ms. Do Thi My Hoa - principal of Vo Truong Toan Primary School, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City - said that up to now, the school has not received enough 5th grade books ordered by parents.

"Textbooks for grades 2, 3, and 4 have arrived in full, but grade 5 textbooks have arrived several times and still not enough. The school's textbook supplier said they will provide them to us before the first day of school on August 19. I hope there will be enough books for parents to prepare their children for the new school year," said Ms. Hoa.

Ms. Pham Thi Hoa - Deputy General Director of Ho Chi Minh City Book Distribution Joint Stock Company (Fahasa) - confirmed that the Fahasa bookstore system is locally lacking some exercise books for some grades in some sets, and some textbooks for grades 5, 9, and 12 (this year is the first year these books are printed according to the 2018 General Education Program).

"The second printing of SKG, the publisher said, was behind schedule. The basic system has enough books, only lacking some textbooks and exercise books for some classes due to dependence on the publisher's supply."

Phuong Nam Bookstore System said it has been working with the Publishing House since the end of last year to have textbooks to supply for next year.

"This year, our basic textbooks are enough. We even provide "hot" books for grades 5, 9, and 12 to students at this time," said Ms. Hoang Phuong, marketing director of the Phuong Nam bookstore chain.

Hotline for recording opinions on textbooks

Vietnam Education Publishing House advises parents that if they buy retail, they should go to the Publishing House stores or local book and school equipment companies. They can also order online from reputable book selling channels to ensure the origin.

The Publishing House also provides a hotline (0344.181.018) from 8am to 10pm every day (including Saturdays, Sundays and holidays) to record feedback from parents about not being able to buy books or buying fake, poor quality books.

The school has a support plan.

Some primary and secondary schools in Ho Chi Minh City have come up with plans to support parents in purchasing textbooks for their students right from the end of the previous school year or when submitting admission applications.

"Since the end of last school year, the school has let teachers choose textbooks and then notified parents. If parents have a need, we will work with the publisher to provide them. For first graders, as soon as they come to school to submit their application, parents will also be informed about this support.

During the summer, when textbooks arrive, the school will notify parents if textbooks are available" - Ms. Tran Thi Thu Huong, principal of Dinh Tien Hoang Primary School, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, said. At this school, about 80% of parents register through the school channel.

Similarly, Le Hong Phong High School for the Gifted also has a plan to support parents in buying books in the context that the school chooses books according to its own teaching requirements. "We have just announced textbooks on the website and supported students in buying by placing orders if they find it necessary," said an official of this school.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/cung-ung-sach-giao-khoa-nam-hoc-moi-ra-sao-2024081608370631.htm