Vietnam Urgently Addresses Textbook Shortage, Aims for 2026 Supply System Enhancement

The Vietnamese government has issued directives for urgent measures to establish a textbook supply system for the 2026 academic year (2026-2027). This is particularly critical as a unified textbook set, "Kết nối tri thức với cuộc sống" (Knowledge Connection with Life) by Education Publishing House of Vietnam, is set to be implemented nationwide from that year. Currently, approximately 776,000 textbooks, representing about 0.31% of the total demand, have yet to reach students. Factors contributing to this shortage include fluctuations in school and class sizes due to administrative reorganisation, and a significant surge in actual demand exceeding initial forecasts (a nearly 39.7% increase compared to projections). Delays in registration with new publishers in some localities also impacted supply. In response, provincial Departments of Education and Training are identifying schools, classes, and specific titles facing shortages. They are facilitating the transfer of books from areas with surpluses and coordinating with publishers for additional print runs. Education Publishing House of Vietnam has already relocated over 8 million textbooks between regions in September and plans to print an additional 17.13 million copies. While awaiting physical textbooks, many schools are employing alternative methods such as utilising library books, used textbooks, e-books, and learning worksheets to prevent disruption to teaching and learning. In Dien Bien province, books are being transferred between schools, older textbooks are being reused, with priority given to schools in remote and border areas. Minister of Education and Training, Hoang Minh Son, acknowledged that inaccurate demand forecasting and planning led to localised surpluses and shortages, pledging to enhance monitoring of planning and forecasting in the future. The textbook shortage has also highlighted the importance of clear communication within the education system. An example from Long Bien Primary School in Hanoi demonstrates success: by encouraging parents to register for textbook purchases from the end of the previous academic year, the school managed to distribute all textbooks to students before the summer break, following directives from the local People's Committee. Experts emphasise that a unified textbook system can only realise its advantages with an accurate and timely updated data system. Furthermore, they suggest that beyond physical textbook distribution, diverse learning resources such as e-books, libraries, textbook reuse, shared learning materials, and teachers' proficiency in utilising various resources are crucial as necessary "backup layers" to ensure continuity of education amidst any supply chain issues. Source: Nhan Dan