Vietnam's Education Minister Apologizes for Textbook Shortages, Vows to Address Exam Cheating

Minister of Education and Training Hoàng Minh Sơn addressed the recent textbook shortages and irregularities in university entrance exams during a session with the National Assembly's Committee for Culture and Social Affairs on September 20, offering apologies and pledging corrective actions. Regarding the textbook issue, Minister Sơn explained that inaccurate demand forecasting and planning by the ministry and local authorities led to localized shortages. He noted that in several provinces and cities, including Hue, Da Nang, Dak Lak, Gia Lai, An Giang, and particularly Ho Chi Minh City, parents had to scramble to find textbooks, sometimes for days before or after the school year began. He mentioned that while the selection of a single set of textbooks was finalized by the end of 2025, and the Vietnam Education Publishing House and localities were tasked with production and supply planning, a policy of free textbooks in some areas led parents to delay purchases. These factors, combined with imprecise demand forecasting, resulted in the temporary shortages. "We are seriously learning from this experience, will monitor more closely and strictly, and ensure accurate textbook demand forecasting. This will not happen in the next academic year," Minister Sơn pledged. As of the afternoon of September 19, approximately 900,000 textbooks, or 0.25% of the total 240 million planned copies, had not yet reached students. Publishers and suppliers are actively working to ensure complete delivery. On the matter of exam cheating, National Assembly Deputy Đinh Ngọc Quý raised concerns about serious irregularities occurring in some localities despite four revisions to the graduation exam regulations since 2020, which have eroded public trust. Minister Sơn acknowledged the unfortunate incidents of cheating, attributing them to a lack of legal compliance and localized organizational issues. He emphasized the need for strict legal penalties for individuals involved and accountability from all parties to uphold the rule of law in examinations and the entire education sector. He also discussed the proposed removal of IELTS bonus points in university admissions. Minister Sơn stated that this proposal is based on clear data analysis, arguing that awarding bonus points for English proficiency in programs not requiring it is unfair and leads to a double count of academic ability. He highlighted cases where very high scores were insufficient for admission due to the absence of expensive English certificates, calling it an urgent issue related to fairness that requires immediate adjustment.