Circular No. 39/2026/TT-BGDĐT Regulating the Procedures for Compilation, Review, and Issuance of the Textbook on National Defense and Security Education in Vocational Education Institutions, Higher Education Institutions, and National Defense and Security Training Centers

DECREE

Regulations on the Compilation, Review, and Issuance of National Defense and Security Education Textbooks in Vocational Education Institutions, Higher Education Institutions, and National Defense and Security Education Centers

Based on the Law on Education No. 43/2019/QH14 dated June 14, 2019; the Decree Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Law on Education No. 123/2025/QH15 dated December 10, 2025;

Based on the Law on Higher Education No. 125/2025/QH15 dated December 10, 2025;

Based on the Law on Vocational Education No. 124/2025/QH15 dated December 10, 2025;

Based on the Law on National Defense and Security Education No. 30/2013/QH13 dated June 19, 2013;

Based on Decree No. 37/2025/NĐ-CP dated February 26, 2025 of the Government on the Functions, Powers, Tasks, and Organizational Structure of the Ministry of Education and Training;

In accordance with the proposal by the Director of the Department of National Defense and Security Education;

The Minister of Education and Training promulgates this Decree to regulate the procedures for compiling, reviewing, approving, issuing, using, and revising national defense and security education textbooks in vocational education institutions, higher education institutions, and national defense and security education centers.

Chapter I
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Application and Applicable Subjects

1. This Decree regulates the procedures for compiling, reviewing, approving, issuing, using, and revising national defense and security education textbooks in vocational education institutions, higher education institutions, and national defense and security education centers (hereinafter referred to collectively as educational institutions).

2. This Decree applies to all agencies, organizations, and individuals involved in the activities of compiling, reviewing, approving, issuing, using, and revising national defense and security education textbooks.

Article 2. Interpretation of Terms

In this Decree, the following terms are understood as follows:
National defense and security education textbook is a document for teaching, learning, and research on the content of national defense and security education at a given level of training.
Instructor refers to teachers or lecturers who teach national defense and security education courses in vocational education institutions, higher education institutions, and national defense and security education centers.
Student refers to students in vocational education institutions, higher education institutions, and national defense and security education centers.

Article 3. General Requirements

The compilation, review, approval, issuance, use, and revision of national defense and security education textbooks must comply with the provisions of intellectual property law and relevant legal provisions.
National defense and security education textbooks approved, issued, and used officially for instructors and students in teaching, learning, and researching national defense and security education content at a given level of training shall not use names that may lead to confusion regarding the purpose of using the textbook.

Article 4. Requirements for Textbooks

1. National defense and security education textbooks must be consistent with the Party's views, policies, and guidelines; comply with the Constitution, laws, and provisions on protecting state secrets, intellectual property rights, and relevant legal provisions.

2. The content of the textbook must be consistent with the objectives, requirements, and content of the national defense and security education program at each level of education and training; fully specify the current standards for knowledge, skills, and attitudes according to existing regulations.

3. Knowledge should be presented scientifically and logically; ensure a balanced mix between theory and practice; update new Party and State policies on national defense and security and basic military science and security knowledge appropriate to each level.

4. Materials and sources cited in the process of compiling the textbook must have clear origins, align with the objectives of the textbook, and comply with legal provisions.

5. The textbook is compiled in Vietnamese and has a unified structure, including an introduction, chapters, sections, sub-sections, and a system of questions and exercises to support review and discussion.

Article 5. Use of Textbooks

The textbooks for National Defense and Security Education that are approved and issued by the Ministry of Education and Training must be the primary reference materials for teachers and students in teaching, learning, and researching the subject of National Defense and Security Education at educational institutions; they shall be provided as common resources to support open educational resources to ensure compliance with relevant legal provisions.
The textbooks for National Defense and Security Education used in educational institutions must be compiled, reviewed, approved, and issued according to the provisions of this Circular and relevant legal provisions. Educational institutions specify the authority and responsibilities of units and organizations within the institution, teachers, and students regarding the use of textbooks for teaching, research, and learning.

Article 6. Funding for Compilation, Review, Revision of Textbooks

The funding for organizing the compilation, review, and revision of National Defense and Security Education Textbooks shall be sourced from the national budget allocated for education and training; from grants and support provided by organizations and individuals in accordance with legal provisions and other lawful sources of funds.
The content of expenditure, cost standards for organizing the compilation, review, and revision of textbooks are implemented according to current financial regulations. Budget preparation, management, utilization, and final accounting of funding shall be carried out in accordance with the Law on State Budget and relevant guiding documents.

Chapter II
COMPILATION, REVIEW, APPROVAL, ISSUANCE,
REVISING TEXTBOOKS

Article 7. Compilation of Textbooks

1. The Ministry of Education and Training shall organize the compilation of National Defense and Security Education Textbooks through assignment, commissioning, or tendering to units or individuals in accordance with legal provisions.

2. Standards for Compilers of Textbooks

a) Organizations participating in the compilation of textbooks are educational institutions within and outside the military; they must have a team that meets the requirements specified at point b of paragraph 2 of this Article.

b) Individuals participating in the compilation of textbooks must possess appropriate professional capabilities, experience relevant to the field of compilation; have good moral character and ideological qualities; and have a minimum of five (5) years of work experience at an educational institution within the military or police force, or a minimum of five (5) years of direct teaching experience in National Defense and Security Education subjects at educational institutions.

3. Compilation Process

a) The compilation process is carried out through key steps: developing outlines, organizing the compilation, seeking opinions, finalizing draft versions.

b) The sample National Defense and Security Education Textbook shall be reviewed according to the provisions of Article 8 of this Circular.

c) The Minister of Education and Training decides on the approval and issuance of the National Defense and Security Education Textbooks at educational institutions.

Article 8. Review of Textbooks

1. Establishment of the Review Board The Minister of Education and Training shall decide to establish a Review Board for the National Defense and Security Education Textbooks in educational institutions (hereinafter referred to as the "Review Board"). The composition and number of members of the Review Board are determined by the Minister, ensuring that they include experts, educators, and education management officials with appropriate professional capabilities, expertise, and experience relevant to the content of the textbook being reviewed.

2. General Standards for Members of the Review Board Members of the Review Board must possess professional capabilities and experience relevant to the content of the textbook; have good moral character and meet the requirements of independence and objectivity in their review activities. Individuals directly involved in compiling the sample textbook shall not participate in the Review Board.

3. Review Documentation, including: Request for review document from the lead unit. Sample National Defense and Security Education Textbook to be reviewed. Report on the compilation process. Scientific biography of authors, chief editors, and compilers.

4. Operational Principles of the Review Board The Review Board shall operate in accordance with the principles of independence, objectivity, and truthfulness; evaluate the sample textbook based on the requirements specified in this Circular and relevant legal provisions. During the review process, if necessary, the Review Board may seek expert opinions from relevant agencies, organizations, or individuals.

5. Review Conclusion The conclusion of the Review Board shall be documented to serve as a basis for the Minister of Education and Training's decision on approval and issuance of the textbook. Based on the conclusions of the Review Board, the lead unit responsible for review compiles and finalizes the documentation before submitting it to the Minister of Education and Training for examination and decision-making.

Article 9. Approval and Issuance of Curriculum

Authority to Approve and Issue Curriculum
Based on the results of the review and proposal by the Review Board, the Minister of Education and Training shall examine and decide on the approval and issuance of the National Defense and Security Education Curriculum in educational institutions.
Application for Approval and Issuance of Curriculum
Proposal document for approval and issuance of curriculum submitted by the lead organization responsible for the review.
Sample curriculum deemed by the Review Board to meet the conditions for submission to the Minister of Education and Training for approval and issuance.
Minutes of the Review Board meeting.
Explanation of the sample curriculum proposed for review, including: name of the curriculum, author(s), chief editor(s) (if any); purpose of compilation, target audience and scope of application; structure; content; other relevant information.

Article 10. Curriculum Revision Procedure

1. The National Defense and Security Education Curriculum in educational institutions shall be reviewed and updated when there are changes in the Party's guidelines, State policies, and laws on national defense and security, or when there is a need from teaching and learning practices.

2. The revision of the curriculum must comply with the requirements stipulated in this Circular. In case the content of the revision alters the objectives, structure, or fundamental content of the curriculum, it shall be subject to review and approval according to the provisions of Article 8 and Article 9 of this Circular.

3. The Ministry of Education and Training shall examine and decide on the revision of the National Defense and Security Education Curriculum based on the proposal from the lead organization and the opinion of the Review Board (if necessary).

Chapter III
ORGANIZATION OF IMPLEMENTATION

Article 11. Organization of Implementation

The Office for National Defense and Security Education is the unit responsible for organizing the compilation and review of the National Defense and Security Education Curriculum. It shall coordinate with relevant units to assist the Minister of Education and Training in organizing the compilation and review of the National Defense and Security Education Curriculum in educational institutions, including the following tasks:

a) Organize the compilation and review of the National Defense and Security Education Curriculum according to the provisions of this Circular.

b) Propose the list of members for the Compilation Committee and Review Board.

c) Prepare financial and material conditions for the activities of the Compilation Committee and Review Board.

d) Guide the Compilation Committee and Review Board in fulfilling the purpose and requirements of compilation and review.

d) Receive and forward the sample curriculum to each member of the Review Board; receive proposals and suggestions from the Review Board for submission to the Minister of Education and Training for examination and decision.

e) Submit the National Defense and Security Education Curriculum in educational institutions for approval and issuance by the Minister of Education and Training.

g) Archive the National Defense and Security Education Curriculum, minutes of meetings of the Compilation Committee and Review Board, and related documents during the compilation and review process. Transfer the files to the archive department of the Ministry of Education and Training after the Compilation Committee and Review Board for the National Defense and Security Education Curriculum in educational institutions have completed their tasks for archiving according to regulations.

2. Relevant units within the Ministry shall, based on their functions and responsibilities, cooperate with the Office for National Defense and Security Education to ensure the quality and effectiveness of the compilation and review of the National Defense and Security Education Curriculum in educational institutions.

Article 12. Transparency and Storage

The Ministry of Education and Training shall publicly disclose regulations concerning the organization of compilation, review, approval, issuance, use, and revision of the National Defense and Security Educational Textbook in educational institutions in accordance with current provisions.
The Ministry of Education and Training is responsible for storing and securely preserving relevant documents related to the organization of compilation, review, approval, issuance, use, and revision of the National Defense and Security Educational Textbook in educational institutions in accordance with legal provisions.

Article 13. Implementation Clause

This Circular shall take effect from January 1, 2026.