[REVISION HISTORY]

Vietnam education expansion and textbook supply challenges

Updated 42 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-09-11 13:18 UTC → 2026-09-13 13:02 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Vietnam has launched the 2026–27 academic year with a unified national opening ceremony on September 5, centered at Mường Khương Boarding School. This year follows a major restructuring by the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) to optimize resources through school mergers and a “data-driven governance model.” To support these reforms, the MoET is implementing a comprehensive national program aimed at enhancing preschool and general education through STEM, digital literacy, and selective AI applications. Logistical efforts have seen the Vietnam Education Publishing House (NXBGDVN) distribute hundreds of millions of textbooks and workbooks, prioritizing remote and mountainous regions. However, significant shortages have emerged in urban centers and specific provinces. In Hue, approximately 21% of students lack printed books, particularly in grade 12, following a failed bidding process, while shortages in Dak Lak affect over 40% of students. In Ho Chi Minh City, parents have faced long queues, and some have resorted to purchasing materials from unofficial online markets where prices are reportedly marked up significantly above cover prices. Despite the distribution of 228 million textbooks, a disconnect persists between total production volumes and local availability. In Ha Tinh province, shortages have forced schools to seek flexible solutions, with some parents considering photocopying books despite copyright concerns. In response, Deputy Prime Minister Lê Tiến Châu emphasized that textbooks must be managed as “essential goods rather than profit-driven commodities.” ~~To address supply chain disruptions~~ The MoET has since issued a directive for local departments and ~~forecasting errors,~~ the NXBGDVN to conduct thorough reviews to identify shortages at school, commune, and provincial levels. Authorities have been instructed to redistribute surplus books from areas of excess to those in need, while prioritizing boarding schools in border and remote regions. To mitigate delays, the NXBGDVN is increasing printing capacity and ~~offering~~ providing free ~~digital versions of~~ electronic textbooks ~~and workbooks. In Hue, authorities have temporarily suspended a large-scale free textbook program~~ to ~~avoid budget waste after the failed bidding process~~ students, parents, and ~~a significant drop in actual demand. Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh City continues to encourage the use of free digital PDFs to ensure learning is not interrupted.~~ teachers.

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