Urgent action needed to address localized shortages of textbooks

Immediately after the start of the new school year, parents in several provinces and cities, including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Dong Nai and Dak Lak, have been struggling to purchase textbooks for their children. Many parents have had to get up and queue for days from 4-5 a.m., visiting multiple bookstores but still failing to buy all the books their children need.

At an urgent meeting on the afternoon of September 9, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Le Tien Chau, solutions were put forward to address localized shortages of textbooks. The Deputy Prime Minister asked the Ministry of Education and Training and Vietnam Education Publishing House to urgently review demand, print additional copies and redistribute textbooks to ensure that all students have sufficient books, without affecting teaching and learning. The causes of the shortages have been clarified as disruptions to textbook ordering channels through educational institutions, as well as problems related to the distribution roadmap and operations.

As of September 9, Vietnam Education Publishing House had released 235.6 million copies of textbooks and 84 million copies of workbooks and reference books, but localized shortages still occurred in some localities. The Deputy Prime Minister directed that textbooks be managed as an essential commodity rather than with a focus on profits, and called for a comprehensive review of the entire dealer network, public disclosure of sales outlets with available stock, telephone numbers/hotlines and online ordering channels, as well as the establishment of a 24/7 rapid-response task force to receive feedback and coordinate the delivery of textbooks to each shortage hotspot.

The recent meeting showed that the Government responded swiftly to the localized textbook shortages. Treating textbooks as an essential commodity is a proper step, as textbooks are not merely commercial products but also a means of ensuring students’ access to knowledge. However, the situation also highlights shortcomings in forecasting and distribution, including fluctuations in student numbers, unsynchronized ordering channels and an uneven dealer network, particularly in remote and disadvantaged areas. If these issues are not thoroughly addressed, textbook shortages could recur every year. In the long term, digital data should be utilized to accurately forecast textbook demand, while closer coordination among schools, parents and publishers/distributors should be strengthened. Electronic textbooks should also be developed to ease pressure on printing and distribution, ensuring that students have the necessary learning materials as soon as the new school year begins.

Nguyet Hang