In response to public opinion that images in children's books are inappropriate, the Ministry of Education and Training speaks out.

Recently, images of children's book pages with data descriptions in textbooks have been circulating on social networks, causing negative public opinion. The Ministry of Education and Training has spoken out.

Deputy Minister of Education and Training Hoang Minh Son affirmed that there have been no cases of reference books for children brought to schools containing inappropriate content.

The Deputy Minister of Education and Training affirmed that there have been no cases of reference books for children brought to schools containing inappropriate content.

On the afternoon of November 4, at the regular Government press conference, the press asked the leaders of the Ministry of Education and Training to inform them about how the management of reference books and children's books is being implemented to avoid inappropriate content.

Accordingly, recently, images of children's book pages with data descriptions in textbooks have been circulating on social networks, causing negative public opinion. The Ministry of Education and Training had to request the authorities to intervene to clarify the information being circulated.

Deputy Minister of Education and Training Hoang Minh Son said that regarding textbooks, the Ministry has very strict regulations from standards, processes to appraisal and selection for use. For reference books and books for children, the scope is very wide.

The Deputy Minister emphasized that there are two issues here. First, regarding the publication and circulation of reference books and children's books, the Ministry of Information and Communications is responsible for state management of the publishing house. Regarding the publishing house, the publishers are responsible for the content.

Second, regarding the use of these books in schools, primary schools, preschools, and continuing education centers, the Ministry of Education and Training recognizes that "there needs to be regulations to strengthen the state's management responsibility" to limit inappropriate content.

Since 2014, the Ministry of Education and Training has issued a circular on the use and management of reference books in schools. In particular, the circular clearly stipulates the conditions, requirements, and responsibilities of teachers, schools, the Department of Education and Training, and the Department of Education and Training in managing the use of content that, if any, is brought into the school, brought into the school library, as well as books that parents want to use, the school will also advise them to use.

The standards and conditions are clearly stated here, especially the responsibilities of the school and the Department of Education and Training in inspection and examination. If there are inappropriate contents, those books will be stopped from being used.

"We have not found any cases of reference books brought into schools containing inappropriate content," the Deputy Minister of Education and Training affirmed.

Recently, there have been a number of incidents, and this is not the first time, where some social media accounts, newspapers, etc. have taken pictures of parts of books somewhere on the market, either intentionally or unintentionally, to make people misunderstand that this is the content of textbooks. Mr. Son believes that this is very dangerous and has a very negative impact on the entire education system.

Deputy Minister Hoang Minh Son also asked the press to note the need to clearly verify information, origin, determine where, and whose responsibility.

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