Ho Chi Minh City Education Department Proposes Solutions Amidst Textbook Shortage

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training has put forth multiple solutions to address the ongoing textbook shortage for the 2026-2027 academic year. This issue is reportedly due to delays in the publication and distribution of revised textbooks accompanying the introduction of a new curriculum. The department plans to actively promote the use of alternative learning materials. These include textbooks from previous academic years, supplementary materials created by teachers, and resources available on digital platforms. The utilization of online learning resources is expected to be a key focus, offering advantages in terms of up-to-date information and diverse learning styles. In Vietnam, educational reform is a national priority, with textbooks serving as crucial elements for standardizing curriculum content and ensuring educational quality. However, the implementation of centralized educational policies under a one-party system often faces challenges such as discrepancies with local realities and insufficient preparation time for on-the-ground implementation. This textbook shortage may indicate shortcomings in planning and coordination within the sequential process of content finalization by the Ministry of Education, ordering from publishers, printing, and distribution to schools nationwide. Particularly, in Vietnam's continuously growing economy, investment in education is key to future human capital development, and such supply issues raise concerns about educational equity and quality. The department states that it will make every effort to ensure students can smoothly commence their studies from the new academic year through these alternative measures, although improvements to the fundamental textbook supply system are urgently needed.