The draft outlines policies on free textbooks and a roadmap for waiving tuition fees and providing free course materials for national defence and security education at higher education and vocational institutions. The policy aims to implement the Politburo’s Resolution 71 on breakthrough development in education and training, as well as ensuring citizens’ right to education.

Under the draft decree, free textbooks will be provided through a shared library system. The State will invest in purchasing textbooks, including printed books and Braille editions, for school libraries.

Students and teachers will borrow textbooks for use during a semester or school year and return them afterward for reuse and continued management.

The list of textbooks eligible for free use will be based on the set approved by the Minister of Education and Training for nationwide application.

While the policy is set for nationwide implementation from the 2029–2030 school year, localities with sufficient budget capacity are encouraged to adopt it earlier, prioritising border areas, islands, ethnic minority communities, mountainous regions, and areas with difficult socio-economic conditions.

Previously, the Government issued a resolution to implement the Politburo’s Resolution 71, including a key orientation to standardise a single textbook system nationwide from the 2026–2027 school year.

The draft decree also stipulates that the State will provide free course materials for national defence and security education at universities and vocational institutions, also under a borrow-and-return library model.

This policy is expected to take effect nationwide from the 2027–2028 school year.

At the same time, students will be exempt from tuition fees for this compulsory subject. The State budget will directly compensate educational institutions for the waived fees. However, students retaking the course will not be eligible for the tuition exemption.

Funding for these policies will be covered by the State budget under current decentralisation regulations, while additional lawful contributions from organisations and individuals are encouraged.

Due to the urgency of policy issuance, the Ministry of Education and Training has requested feedback from relevant agencies, organisations, and individuals by April 4, allowing just four days for public consultation.

NA examines unified textbooks in 2026 and free provision for students by 2030

VOV.VN - The National Assembly on November 17 examined the Government’s proposal to use a single nationwide set of general education textbooks starting from the 2026–2027 school year, and provide textbooks free of charge for students by 2030.