Minister of Education and Training Phung Xuan Nha (Photo: VNA)

Answering a query on the budget to compile new textbooks and documents and arrange training, the minister said the Government has approved 80 million USD for the project, of which 77 million USD is official development assistance (ODA) from the World Bank and the remainder reciprocal capital.

The Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) has returned to the WB 16.5 million USD in funds it will not use, he explained.

Some 12 million USD will have been mobilised by December, and MoET has reviewed non-essential spending related to training, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nha affirmed that the ministry has returned 29.7 million USD to the Government and exerted every effort to cut spending from the State budget on compiling textbooks.

Responding to another question on the slow issuance of a guiding document on teaching general knowledge at vocational schools, he said it is still being mulled over by relevant agencies at the ministry.

The ministry has worked with the Ministry of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs (MoLISA) on the issue and a draft circular is set to be promulgated later this year.

More time is needed, however, to avoid overlaps, he added. In the meantime, schools are advised to follow existing regulations./.VNA

Minister appears before NA to explain new textbooks for first graders

The Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) has examined and approved 46 textbooks of five sets of textbooks belonging to three publishing houses.