On the morning of January 7, the Presidential Office held a press conference to announce 12 laws passed by the 15th National Assembly at the 10th Session.
Among the published laws, there are 3 laws related to education, including the Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Education; Law on Higher Education; Law on Vocational Education. The laws take effect from January 1, 2026.
At the press conference, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Van Phuc said that the new law stipulates that the Minister of Education and Training decides on a unified set of textbooks nationwide and the Government stipulates a roadmap for free textbooks, ensuring standards, stability and fairness in accessing textbooks.
For local education materials, the law stipulates that they are compiled by specialized agencies under the provincial People's Committee to meet the needs and be suitable to the characteristics of the locality.
The Council for appraisal of local educational materials is decided to be established by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee. The Council and members of the Council are responsible for the content and quality of appraisal.
The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee approves local educational materials for use in general education institutions after being appraised and rated as achievable by the Provincial Council.
The Minister of Education and Training stipulates standards and procedures for compiling, amending and appraising local educational materials.
The Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Education Law stipulates removing the secondary school graduation certificate instead of confirming the completion of the program in accordance with compulsory education regulations at the secondary school level, reducing pressure on students and in accordance with international practices.
Regulations on diplomas and certificates issued in paper or digital form to meet digital transformation requirements and create favorable conditions for authentication and lookup of diplomas and certificates.
Along with that, increasing the real power for the school principal and head of the educational institution in confirming secondary school completion, issuing high school diplomas to enhance the proactive right associated with the accountability of the head of the educational institution...
Another content is assigning the Minister of Education and Training to regulate the implementation of the secondary education program and the education program under the program for issuing diplomas of the national education system at general education, vocational education, and higher education institutions, instead of having to be permitted by a competent state management agency on education.
Thereby reducing application and approval procedures, creating more favorable conditions for flexible and integrated training models while still ensuring quality control.
Answering the press about the selection of the unified textbook set, Mr. Dao Hong Cuong - Deputy Director of the Legal Department of the Ministry of Education and Training - said that this selection has been made public by the Ministry on the website.
According to Mr. Cuong, on December 26, 2025, the Minister of Education and Training issued Decision 3588 approving the national unified textbook set for use from the 2026-2027 school year.
Through this, the book set "Connecting Knowledge with Life" of the Education Publishing House was selected as a national unified textbook set for use from the 2026-2027 school year.
This person said that the textbook selection process is carried out by the Ministry of Education and Training in accordance with regulations.
Regarding the exemption of textbooks, according to Mr. Cuong, this content is identified in Resolution 71 of the Politburo, which assigns the Government to regulate the exemption of textbooks.
Mr. Cuong added that on December 31, 2025, the Prime Minister issued a decision on the list, assigning agencies to preside over, and drafting detailed guiding documents for laws and Resolutions passed at the 10th Session.
In which, the Ministry is assigned to deploy the development of many decrees, including a decree on free textbooks. It is expected that in April 2026, the Ministry will advise the Government to issue this decree.
