Ho Chi Minh City provides free textbooks for all high school students

All high school students, regardless of public or private schools, are entitled to free textbooks in the form of loan-return, but must compensate if they are damaged or lost.

The policy applies to students according to the current high school curriculum and textbooks, in the August 14 plan of the City People's Committee. Total estimated cost is about 567 billion VND.

Students can borrow books from the library at the beginning of the school year or semester, returning them after the school year ends. If books are damaged or lost, parents must compensate in kind or money (80-50-20%), depending on the level.

The City strictly prohibits collecting related deposit, storage, library, etc. fees. Schools must publicize book lists, manage the borrowing-returning process, and inventory and classify them at the end of the year.

Before buying new books, schools need to prioritize using existing books and mobilizing from libraries in the area (if possible). For private groups, textbooks will be supported by the state based on actual needs and proposals from schools to the Department of Education and Training.

To meet immediate needs, authorities let schools buy their own books through bidding. Every year, the Department will review and compile statistics on the number of usable books and the need to buy new ones, and submit them to superiors for approval. If books are damaged due to natural wear or unexpected increases in demand, the budget will support but not exceed 10% of the existing textbooks in the library.

Ho Chi Minh City is the largest educational city in the country with nearly 2.6 million students. Initially, the city plans to exempt textbooks only for grades 1, 6 and 10, then expand each school year. With the above policy, Ho Chi Minh City is three years ahead of the national roadmap.

Some localities that also offer free textbooks from the next school year are Quang Ninh, Hue, Hoa Vang commune (Da Nang) and Dong Xoai ward, Bu Dang commune (Dong Nai).