So that teachers and students are not too dependent on textbooks

In the process of implementing a program and many textbooks, there are still many opinions pointing out the confusion of teachers, pressure from parents, and inadequacies in the process of choosing textbooks...

The process of fundamental and comprehensive reform of education , the policy of one program and many sets of textbooks is an important step forward, demonstrating the spirit of liberal education, respecting differences, promoting innovation and creativity in teaching. This is a new way of doing things, not only changing education management but also accelerating the policy of socializing education.

Students return to school to prepare for the new school year 2025-2026, the 6th year of implementing a program and many sets of textbooks.

Photo: Ngoc Duong

However, along with opportunities come challenges. The process of implementing a program and many sets of textbooks still has many opinions pointing out the confusion of teachers, pressure from parents, and inadequacies in the process of choosing textbooks...

If appropriate and synchronous measures are not promptly taken, this correct policy may cause unwanted consequences.

Therefore, for a program and many textbooks to be truly effective, the following measures are needed.

Teachers invest in preparing lessons from many textbooks and reference materials.

Teachers play a guiding role in developing students' qualities and abilities. From many sets of textbooks, teachers read, know, understand, apply, and then select, compare, and synthesize strengths, good points, and content suitable for students, while combining them with reference materials and digital learning materials.

For example, when teaching the content of measuring the specific heat capacity of water (12th grade physics), if the teacher refers to the 12th grade physics book of the Creative Horizon, Connecting Knowledge with Life, and Kite series, the lecture will certainly be good, profound, practical, and attractive to students.

Teachers who directly teach in class are those who have a good understanding of teaching practices, so they should be encouraged to participate in compiling and editing textbooks and compiling reference materials (based on collaboration with scientists and education experts) to produce sets of textbooks and reference materials that best meet teaching requirements.

Besides, it is necessary to continue to innovate professional group activities. must be a place for teachers to combine, exchange, and analyze together the advantages and disadvantages of each lesson of each textbook set.

Implementing many sets of textbooks inevitably requires the application of information technology. This is a powerful support tool to connect many different learning resources, helping teachers understand correctly the phenomena, concepts, definitions, etc. Thanks to that, students can access vivid, multi-dimensional knowledge through a lesson, with the same content, but in different textbooks.

Parents choose textbooks to prepare for the new school year for their children.

Photo: Dao Ngoc Thach

Let teachers and students choose their own textbooks.

A current paradox is that the textbook selection process is heavily administrative, and in some places, due to deference and hesitation, the "superior" makes the decision, making teachers, students, and parents dissatisfied. Therefore, the socialization (of textbooks) seems to stop halfway.

Therefore, it is necessary to truly empower each teacher, each parent, and each student with the right to choose on a transparent and fair basis; without coercion or group interests.

Besides, it is necessary to strengthen the management of the board of directors. The Board of Directors takes the initiative, approves the educational plan, guides (consults), and inspects the implementation of a program and many sets of textbooks. The Board of Directors listens to teachers, spreads positive emotions, encourages teachers to overcome difficulties, boldly innovate, and at the same time ensures consistency and fairness.

Students practice self-study skills

A program and many sets of textbooks further enhance the central position of students. Requires them to know how to exploit, compare, and self-discover knowledge from many textbooks and from vivid practice. Through that, helps students adapt to change, practice critical thinking and creativity.

A program with many sets of textbooks also requires parents to not only be the ones "buying" textbooks and providing learning conditions, but also to be the ones accompanying their children in the process of acquiring knowledge.

Teacher training and education must be a priority when implementing a program or many textbooks.

Photo: Dao Ngoc Thach

Teacher training; innovation in testing and examinations

The Ministry of Education and Training needs to organize regular, quality training for teachers, especially in the context of implementing two-level local government.

Today’s general education teachers have different capacities and professional levels. Therefore, training and education for teachers must be the priority of all priorities when implementing a program and many sets of textbooks.

At the same time, the Ministry continues to innovate testing and examinations - ensuring fairness for all textbooks, and building a transparent output standards system.

If the above measures are implemented correctly and accurately, they will bring great benefits. However, if there is a lack of consistency, one program and many sets of textbooks can easily lead to waste, loss of trust, and even be counterproductive.

Need to "unleash" teachers to be free to be creative in teaching

The 2018 general education program has completed a cycle of replacing textbooks from grades 1 to 12 (5 years). The outstanding feature of the 2018 Program is teaching to promote students' qualities and abilities along with the unified implementation of a program with many sets of textbooks nationwide.

As a history teacher at secondary school level, I have taught history (history and geography) for grades 6, 7, 8, and 9, using the Kite book and the Connecting knowledge with life book. I have the following comments.

First of all, the textbooks currently used in schools have been reviewed and approved by the Ministry of Education and Training. Although the presentation and layout of current textbooks may be different, they are all based on a single, unified and standard program.

However, to do this effectively, the Ministry of Education and Training needs to "unleash" teachers, so that teachers can freely create in teaching. Every year at the beginning of the school year, teachers are observed by the school board to classify and teach demonstration lessons in groups... It is worth mentioning that all those lessons must be based on the textbooks that the school chooses to teach, and the examiners also base on that book to comment and evaluate whether the teachers have fully implemented what is presented in the book or not. This is unfair and unreasonable.

Because of this mechanical nature, it has become a habit for teachers to stick to textbooks to teach for peace of mind.

For a lesson to be effective, the teacher must carefully prepare the lesson plan, including what content needs to be conveyed to the students, what methods are appropriate for the students, what teaching aids are needed, etc. This is a mandatory requirement for the teacher before going to class. In reality, the lesson plan is a burden for teachers because the Ministry of Education and Training stipulates that the lesson plan is one of the teacher's documents and must be prepared according to a template. Many teachers recommend that the lesson plan does not need to follow a prescribed template, so that teachers can choose the form and content of the preparation as long as it meets the requirements of the program and the lesson objectives.

There is a need to truly innovate the assessment and testing more drastically. Innovation in testing will positively impact teachers' teaching methods, change students' learning methods and also change the concept of choosing which textbook to teach. Tests are designed with matrices, specifications, answers, and marking instructions based mainly on the program and standards, not based entirely on textbooks.

Nguyen Van Luc

(Trinh Phong Secondary School, Dien Khanh, Khanh Hoa )

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/de-giao-vien-hoc-sinh-khong-qua-le-thuoc-vao-sach-giao-khoa-185250820104742628.htm