The textbook set "Connecting Knowledge with Life" of Vietnam Education Publishing House was selected by the Ministry of Education and Training for use nationwide from the 2026-2027 school year.
The Ministry of Education and Training having to speak out to "rectify" shows a worrying reality, history is being dragged into emotional debates on social networks.
Many people have not read books, but are willing to accuse and misjudge the content of textbooks, denying the efforts of those who compile books and do educational work.
One of the arguments spreading on social networks is that the History - Geography textbook of grade 5 "only teaches about Nguyen Anh but does not teach about Quang Trung - the Tay Son movement", thereby inferring that the textbook "interchanges history", "erases national heroic merits".
This is an unfounded reasoning, contrary to the nature of the new general education program.
According to the Ministry of Education and Training, the content about Quang Trung and the Tay Son movement is not only not omitted, but also arranged fully, systematically, throughout many levels of education: from grade 8 in lower secondary school to grade 11 in high school.
According to experts, the history program in current textbooks has shifted to a scientific and objective approach, placing characters in a specific historical context, avoiding idolization or emotional moral judgment.
Nguyen Hue - Quang Trung are national heroes, that is undeniable. But Nguyen Anh - Gia Long is a real historical figure, associated with the formation of the Nguyen Dynasty, which existed for more than a century and left many imprints in the Vietnamese historical process.
Therefore, it is not possible to remove a dynasty from textbooks because of personal love and hatred, nor can it be based on personal emotional judgment to evaluate a historical figure, but there must be scientifically valuable research works.
Teaching the two characters Gia Long and Nguyen Hue is not to judge who deserves to be remembered more. History education is a process to help students understand the past correctly, fully and deeply, on an academic basis.
Educational criticism is necessary, but criticism must be based on text, program, not based on a few lines cut together, speculation or expression of personal emotions.
Distorting history, swapping concepts under the guise of "protecting national heroes" is impoverishing social awareness and harming education.
Because teaching objective and scientific history will help the younger generation understand the past correctly to behave responsibly towards the present and future.
Therefore, in addition to the responsibility of the Ministry of Education and Training, there is also the responsibility of the community, let's speak up to respect the truth and cherish national history.
