Circular No. 01/2020/TT-BGDĐT guiding the selection of textbooks in general education institutions

CIRCULAR

Guidelines for selecting textbooks in general education institutions

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Pursuant to the Education Law on June 14, 2005; the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Articles of the Education Law on November 25, 2009;

Pursuant to Resolution No. 88/2014/QH13 dated November 28, 2014 of the National Assembly on reforming the curriculum and textbooks of general education; Resolution No. 51/2017/NQ14 dated November 21, 2017 of the National Assembly adjusting the implementation schedule of the new curriculum and textbooks of general education according to Resolution No. 88/2014/QH13 dated November 28, 2014 of the National Assembly on reforming the curriculum and textbooks of general education;

Pursuant to Decree No. 69/2017/ND-CP dated May 25, 2017 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Education and Training;

This Circular annexes the Regulation on the organization and operation of primary schools, junior high schools, high schools, and general education schools with multiple levels of private type.

The Minister of Education and Training issues this Circular guiding the selection of textbooks in general education institutions.

PART I
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

Article 1. This Circular guides the selection of textbooks in general education institutions.

Article 2. This Circular applies to primary schools, secondary schools, high schools, multi-grade general education schools, and other educational institutions implementing the general education curriculum (hereinafter referred to as general education institutions), relevant organizations, and individuals.

Article 3. Principles of textbook selection

Point 1. Select textbooks from the list of textbooks approved by the Minister of Education and Training for use in general education institutions.

Point 2. Each subject and educational activity at each grade level selects one textbook.

3. Ensure transparency, openness, and compliance with the law.

Article 4. Criteria for textbook selection

Clause 1. Suitable with the economic and social characteristics of the locality.

Point 2. In accordance with the conditions for teaching and learning organization at general education institutions.

Chapter II
ORGANIZATION AND ACTIVITIES OF THE TEXTBOOK SELECTION COUNCIL

Article 5. Textbook Selection Council

Point 1. The textbook selection council of general education institutions (hereinafter referred to as the Council) shall be established by the head of the general education institution to assist the head in organizing the selection of textbooks. Each general education institution establishes one Council. For multi-grade general education schools, each grade level establishes one Council.

Point 2. The Council includes: the head, deputy head, heads of specialized departments, representatives of teachers teaching subjects and educational activities (hereinafter collectively referred to as subjects) with selected textbooks, and representatives of the Parent-Teacher Association of the general education institution. The number of Council members is an odd number, with a minimum of eleven people, of which at least two-thirds are department heads and teachers. For general education institutions with less than ten classes, the minimum number of Council members is seven.

Point 3. Individuals who have participated in compiling textbooks or participating in the review of textbooks organized by publishers, those involved in directing the compilation, publication, printing, and distribution of textbooks, and those working at publishers with textbooks may not participate in the Council.

Point 4. Tasks of the Council:

a) Select textbooks in accordance with these Circulars and specific criteria for selecting textbooks set by provincial People's Committees (hereinafter collectively referred to as provincial People's Committees);

b) Propose a list of textbooks for use in general education institutions to the head of the general education institution;

c) The textbook selection council shall dissolve itself upon completion of its tasks.

Article 5. Structure of the Council

1. The Chairman of the Council is the head of the general education institution. In cases where the head of the general education institution cannot participate in the Council as prescribed in Clause 3, Article 4 of this Circular and in cases of unavoidable absence, the Chairman of the Council shall be the deputy of the head of the general education institution.

2. The Vice-Chairman of the Council is the deputy of the head of the general education institution or the head of the specialized department team.

3. The Secretary of the Council is the head of the specialized department team.

4. Members of the Council are the heads of the specialized department teams, representatives of teachers teaching subjects, and representatives of the Parent-Student Association of the general education institution.

Article 6. Duties and Authorities of Council Members

1. Duties and authorities of the Chairperson of the Board:

a) Be responsible for the activities of the Council, establish plans and organize the implementation of the Council's work plan;

b) Organize the implementation of Council activities; assign tasks to the Vice-Chairman of the Council, the Secretary of the Council, and Council members;

c) Handle situations arising during the process of selecting textbooks within their authority;

d) Perform other duties and authorities as stipulated at point a, b, and c of Clause 4 of this Article;

e) Be responsible for explaining the Council's decision on selecting textbooks;

2. Duties and authorities of the Vice-Chairperson of the Board:

a) Be responsible for the contents of work assigned by the Chairman of the Council;

b) Perform other duties and authorities as prescribed in point a, b, d, clause 4 of this Article.

3. Duties and authorities of the Secretary of the Board:

a) Assist the Chairman of the Council in preparing the content and program of the Council's work;

b) Draft minutes of the Council's meetings;

c) Perform other duties and authorities as stipulated at points a, b, and d of Clause 4 of this Article.

4. Duties and authorities of Board members:

a) Attend Council meetings; seek opinions from students and parents regarding textbook selection; study and evaluate textbooks according to the criteria for selecting textbooks and related materials provided by the Council;

b) Be responsible for comments and evaluations on textbook selection;

c) In cases where they cannot attend Council meetings, report to the Chairman of the Council and submit written comments, evaluations, and selections of textbooks to the Chairman of the Council before the meeting takes place; the written opinion of absent Council members on textbook selection will be counted in the first round of voting results of the Council;

d) Perform other tasks assigned by the Chairperson of the Board.

Article 7. Principles of Council Operations

1. The Council operates based on principles of centralization, democracy, objectivity, and transparency.

2. A Council meeting is considered valid when at least two-thirds (2/3) of its members participate, including the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and Secretary.

3. The results of each Council meeting must be recorded in minutes. The minutes must have signatures of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, and attending members.

Chapter III
ORGANIZATION OF TEXTBOOK SELECTION

Article 8. Process for Selecting Textbooks

1. The specialized department organizes research, discussion, and evaluation of textbooks for subjects under its responsibility according to the criteria for selecting textbooks. Teachers vote secretly to select one textbook for each subject within the scope of evaluation and selection of the specialized department. The specialized department reports to the Council a list of selected textbooks arranged in descending order of the number of votes received. The list of selected textbooks must have signatures of the head of the specialized department and teachers in the specialized department.

2. The Council convenes to discuss and evaluate textbooks based on the list proposed by the specialized departments according to the principles set out in Article 2 of this Circular and the criteria for selecting textbooks. The Council votes secretly to select textbooks. The selected textbook must receive more than half (1/2) of the votes of Council members. If a textbook does not receive more than half (1/2) of the votes of Council members, the Council discusses and analyzes textbooks with the selection criteria and votes again. After the second round of voting, if it still does not receive more than half (1/2) of the votes of Council members, the Council decides to select the textbook with the highest number of votes from the list reported by the specialized department as stipulated in Clause 1 of this Article. The Council compiles the results of textbook selection into minutes, signed by the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, and attending members.

3. The Council proposes to the head of the general education institution a list of textbooks selected for use in the general education institution.

4. Based on the Council's proposal, the head of the general education institution decides on the list of textbooks to be used in the general education institution.

Article 9. Announcing the List of Selected Textbooks

The head of general education institutions shall publicly announce the list of textbooks to be used in such institutions and post it at the institution premises at least four months before the start of the new academic year.

Chapter IV
IMPLEMENTATION

Article 10. Responsibilities of the Provincial People's Committee

1. Based on the criteria for selecting textbooks stipulated in Article 3 of this Circular, specify specific criteria for selecting textbooks suitable for general education institutions within their jurisdiction.

2. Direct the Department of Education and Training, the Department of Education, Science and Technology (hereinafter referred to collectively as the Department of Education and Training); the People's Committee of districts, towns, cities under provinces (hereinafter referred to collectively as the District People's Committee) to organize guidance, supervision, and inspection of general education institutions in selecting textbooks according to this Circular.

3. Ensure funding sources according to the management level for general education institutions to organize the selection of textbooks.

Article 11. Responsibilities of the Department of Education and Training

1. Based on the provisions of Article 3 of this Circular, advise the Provincial People's Committee to specify specific criteria for selecting textbooks suitable for general education institutions within their jurisdiction.

2. Direct, guide, supervise, and inspect the organization of textbook selection by general education institutions under their management authority.

3. Report to the Ministry of Education and Training, the Provincial People's Committee, and provide information to publishers with selected textbooks about the list, quantity of textbooks each publisher needs to supply, including reserve quantities, to ensure sufficient textbooks before the start of each new academic year.

Article 12. Responsibilities of the District People's Committee

1. Direct the Department of Education and Training to organize guidance, supervision, and inspection of textbook selection by general education institutions under their management authority.

2. Ensure funding sources for general education institutions under their management authority to organize textbook selection.

Article 13. Responsibilities of the Education and Training Office

1. Direct, guide, supervise, and inspect the organization of textbook selection by general education institutions under their management authority.

2. Summarize and report to the District People's Committee, the Department of Education and Training the results of textbook selection by general education institutions under their management authority.

Article 14. Responsibilities of General Education Institutions

1. Organize textbook selection according to this Circular and the regulations of the Provincial People's Committee to implement textbook selection; report to the Department of Education and Training (for secondary schools), the Department of Education and Training (for primary and lower secondary schools) about the results of textbook selection.

2. Use selected textbooks in teaching and learning activities; guide teachers, students, and parents of students to use textbooks in accordance with the law.

3. Be responsible to educational management agencies, students, and parents of students for the decision on textbook selection made by the general education institution.

Chapter V
IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 15. Effective Date

This Circular takes effect from March 15, 2020.

Article 16. Responsibility for Implementation

The Director of the Office, the Head of the Primary Education Department, the Head of the Secondary Education Department, and the Heads of relevant units under the Ministry of Education and Training; the Chairmen of People's Committees at all levels, Directors of Departments of Education and Training, Heads of Departments of Education and Training, heads of general education institutions, related organizations, and individuals are responsible for implementing this Circular./.