The policy aims to enhance fairness, reduce educational disparities, and ease financial burdens on families nationwide.
Currently, schools across Vietnam use three main sets of textbooks: Cánh Diều, Kết nối tri thức, and Chân trời sáng tạo.
While this diversity has allowed schools to choose materials suited to local needs, it has also created complications.
Students transferring schools often face knowledge gaps, parents struggle with additional costs, and teachers must adapt to multiple versions.
The new policy has drawn wide support from educators, parents, and students, particularly in disadvantaged and ethnic minority areas.
“For communities with large ethnic minority populations like ours, free and unified textbooks will motivate students and support equal access to education,” said Bùi Xuân Ngọc, Principal of Vĩnh Hiệp Primary School in Gia Lai province.
Parents also welcome the change. Nguyễn Thị Minh Tuyết, a mother in Hội Phú ward, described her struggles navigating multiple textbook options for her first-grade child.
“A unified set will make learning clearer and more consistent. Free textbooks from 2030 will ease the financial burden for families with several children,” she said.
Photo: T.D
Education officials emphasize that while a national set will be mandatory, other textbook series may still be used as references to enrich teaching.
“This is an important step toward ensuring consistency in education quality and access to knowledge,” said Phạm Văn Nam, Director of the Department of Education and Training.
At a national conference on September 16, General Secretary Tô Lâm reaffirmed that investing in education is central to Vietnam’s development.
Resolution No. 71 also directs the Ministry of Education and Training to strengthen curricula in science, technology, informatics, and the arts, while preparing for the free distribution of textbooks nationwide by 2030.
The move is seen as aligning with the government’s broader push for equity in education, complementing existing policies such as free tuition at the general education level.
