Vietnam Education Publishing House addresses localized textbook shortages

Parents and students in several Vietnamese provinces are reporting difficulties in purchasing complete sets of textbooks ahead of the new school year. While the Vietnam Education Publishing House (VEPH) reports having supplied approximately 220 million copies, localized shortages of specific titles have been noted in major cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, as well as in areas like Da Nang and Ca Mau.

VEPH officials stated that the shortages are not widespread but are instead localized issues occurring at specific points of sale or during certain timeframes. One reason cited is that some schools and students do not register through official distribution channels, forcing parents to rely on external retail bookstores that may lack specific titles. To address the demand, VEPH has printed an additional 9 million copies and is transferring 8 million more to various locations.

The Ministry of Education and Training has issued a directive requiring VEPH to coordinate closely with local departments of education to ensure all textbook needs are met. Local authorities have been instructed to review and report shortages by August 25, with a mandate to ensure full supply to all schools, including those in remote or newly established areas, by August 30.