Hue City Faces Severe Textbook Shortage Affecting Over 20% of Students

In Hue City, central Vietnam, over 21% of students have yet to receive their required textbooks, according to the municipal Department of Education and Training. The department is rushing to organize procurement tenders to select a supplier, with the process expected to conclude in about ten days. Since mid-July, the city had approved a plan to purchase textbooks for students from grades 1 to 12, with a budget of approximately 52.8 billion VND (around $2.35 million USD). These books were intended to be distributed through school libraries on a loan-and-return basis. However, a review of student needs at the end of August revealed that the actual funding required was just over 28.2 billion VND (around $1.25 million USD). This reduction was attributed to many families proactively purchasing books for their children before the new academic year, leading to lower demand for loans. The department subsequently organized a tender for the procurement, but no companies participated. Consequently, more than 21% of students in the city are currently without textbooks. Mr. Pham Ba Thanh, Chief of the Department's Office, stated, "We are seeking supplementary solutions as soon as possible." In the interim, teachers are encouraged to utilize the Ministry of Education and Training's digital learning resource library for instruction to ensure the curriculum remains on track. This year, textbook shortages have become widespread across Vietnam. Nearly a week into the new academic year, parents are still actively searching for books for their children. Source: VnExpress