Author Ce Phan is a teacher in Japan, sharing an article about textbooks in this country:
The `one curriculum, many textbooks` educational method has just been realized by introducing a new set of textbooks for the new school year 2020-2021 in Vietnam.
For me, as a teacher in Japan, I think the above transition by the Ministry of Education is necessary even though it is relatively late compared to other education systems.
Textbooks in Japan are privately published
Before World War II, Japan applied a single set of textbooks for the entire country published by the Ministry of Education.
Accordingly, Japan’s Ministry of Education only manages and monitors the standards of educational programs at all levels without producing textbooks itself.
Local governments will select a set of textbooks to apply to the public or charter school system they directly manage.
Usually, the price difference between textbooks is not too much and is quite cheap because the price of textbooks is controlled by the Ministry of Education.
Textbooks are distributed free of charge at the high school level in Japan
Unlike Vietnam, students from grades 1 to 9 in Japanese public schools receive new books completely free of charge.
For private or semi-public schools, tuition may include textbooks or students will buy their own textbooks.
Because all students own their own books, they have complete freedom in using the books.
In theory, a set of textbooks in Japan can only be used once a year because there are often new updates in the next year’s textbooks.
Japanese students learn from many books besides textbooks
Compared to more than 20 books for first grade in Vietnam, the textbook set for each grade in elementary school in Japan has a smaller number of books (about 10-15 books).
Teachers in Japan also pose many problems in class outside of textbooks, so reading outside is very necessary.
Japanese people are very famous for their ability to read books and this habit was certainly formed very early.
In general, students in Japan are luckier than students in Vietnam when it comes to receiving textbook support for many years of study.
>> The article does not necessarily coincide with VnExpress.net’s views.
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