On September 21, at the Government Headquarters, Politburo Member, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung chaired a meeting on the supply of textbooks (textbooks), review of general education programs and textbooks and preparation for serving the thematic supervisory delegation to implement Resolution 71-NQ/TW of the Politburo on breakthroughs in education and training (GDĐT).
Speaking at the meeting, the Prime Minister stated clearly that when entering the new school year, there is still a situation where many students and general education institutions in some localities do not have enough textbooks (to date, there is still a shortage of over 776,000 textbooks, accounting for about 0.31%); this is an urgent issue that is of great concern to society.
The Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Education and Training and the entire Education sector to recognize the causes, seriously learn from experience, and immediately take urgent measures to rectify them in a timely manner, ensuring a sufficient supply of textbooks in the shortest time; and at the same time not to let the shortage of textbooks recur in the following school years.
The Minister of Education and Training focuses on directing and being directly responsible to the Government and the Prime Minister for thoroughly resolving the situation of textbook shortage for the 2026-2027 school year and must complete it before September 25, 2026.
In necessary cases, the Minister decides to invite other publishers and other printing establishments to participate to meet urgent requests in the earliest and fastest time, regardless only of the Education Publishing House.
In the coming years, it is also necessary to diversify printing and distribution, not just having one focal point; other publishers are fully capable of participating.
The Prime Minister emphasized absolutely not to let the situation of students going to school without textbooks continue (especially in localities that are currently lacking many textbooks such as Lam Dong, Dong Nai, Ninh Binh, Phu Tho, Khanh Hoa, Can Tho, Dak Lak... ).
The Prime Minister requested the Minister of Education and Training to seriously direct the review and clarify the responsibilities of relevant organizations, units, and individuals and strictly handle them according to regulations in providing incomplete textbooks to serve students at the beginning of the new school year 2026-2027, and report to the Prime Minister on the situation and results before October 10, 2026.
The Head of Government also noted not to let the general education program and textbooks have many in-depth knowledge, putting pressure on teaching and learning, which is not really necessary for the general education level; and at the same time contributing to reducing exam and enrollment pressure as in the past time.
The Prime Minister emphasized the requirement for strong innovation in textbooks; first of all, copyright according to the spirit that textbook copyright belongs to the State.
When the State keeps copyright and provides free textbooks, it is necessary to reduce all intermediaries, reduce costs for the state budget. Places that have conditions and can meet the requirements are assigned to local leaders and Departments of Education and Training to be responsible for printing and ensuring needs in the area; while places that are difficult and cannot be implemented, they organize publishing, printing, and distribution, in the spirit of diversification, not depending on one focal point.
The Prime Minister requested to grasp the number of students in the coming school years on the basis of data to proactively prepare early and remotely, arrange investment resources to ensure enough schools, enough classes and recruit, mobilize, and arrange to ensure enough teachers.
