Shared Textbook Library model: Multiplying the joy of going to school

More than 5,000 students in Dong Xoai Ward will have sufficient textbooks for the 2026–2027 school year free of charge through the implementation of the Shared Textbook Library model.

Member of the Party Central Committee, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Dong Nai City Party Committee, and Chairwoman of the City People's Council Ton Ngoc Hanh, together with Member of the City Party Committee’s Standing Board and Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee Le Truong Son, joined students in celebrating the launch of the Shared Textbook Library model in Dong Xoai Ward.

The project helps ease the financial burden on parents, reduce textbook waste, promote a spirit of sharing, and contribute to the development of a reading culture and the effective use of community resources.

Joy from the Shared Textbook Library

Holding the set of textbooks she had just received from the library, Pham Minh Anh, a student preparing to enter Grade 9 at Tien Thanh Secondary School in Dong Xoai Ward, said that at the start of each school year in previous years, she and many of her classmates often struggled to choose the set of textbooks that matched the school's curriculum. Some students even bought the wrong books, resulting in unnecessary waste.

This year, she is delighted to be able to borrow textbooks free of charge from the Shared Textbook Library, as she no longer has to worry about buying them. “I will take good care of the books so that younger students can continue to use them," said Minh Anh.

Many parents accompanying their children to school also expressed their support while waiting to complete the borrowing procedures. Pham Thi Loan, a resident of Quarter 1, Dong Xoai Ward, whose child is preparing to enter Grade 9, said, "At the beginning of every new school year, the cost of purchasing textbooks is always a concern for many families facing financial difficulties. Each set of textbooks costs several hundred thousand VND. For families with several children, buying enough textbooks creates considerable financial pressure, in addition to expenses for uniforms, shoes, health insurance, and school supplies."

Dong Xoai Ward is continuing public communication efforts to promote and expand the Shared Textbook Library model. In addition to mobilizing socialized resources, the locality hopes to continue receiving support from organizations, businesses, benefactors, and the public.

Bui Xuan Linh, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Dong Xoai Ward

Tran Thi Tuyet Hanh, also from Quarter 1, Dong Xoai Ward, who has two children studying at Tien Thanh Secondary School, said that her family previously used textbooks passed on by students from previous cohorts to reduce costs. However, because the school's textbooks had changed, many of those books were no longer suitable, requiring the family to purchase new ones. "The implementation of the Shared Textbook Library model by the locality and the school helps families reduce the financial burden at the beginning of each school year," said Hanh.

Humane and economical policy

Principal of Tien Thanh Secondary School Pham Anh Quang said the school has more than 1,500 students each year, around 10% of whom are from disadvantaged backgrounds. Therefore, Dong Xoai Ward's implementation of the Shared Textbook Library model has attracted considerable interest from parents and students.

Parents, students, and teachers at Tien Thanh Secondary School complete the procedures to borrow textbooks from the Shared Textbook Library.

Since the end of the 2025–2026 school year, the school has informed every class about the program and surveyed parents and students to assess demand for textbook borrowing. The results were then compiled and reported to the ward authorities and the textbook supplier.

To date, the school library has received 1,600 sets of textbooks, totaling approximately 24,000 books. On July 4 and 5, the school distributed the textbooks to borrowers. As part of the process, parents, students and homeroom teachers signed the borrowing forms, providing a basis for managing and tracking the books and collecting them at the end of the school year.

"The distribution of textbooks has been carried out simultaneously for all grade levels. Specifically, Grade 6 students will receive their textbooks after the completion of the enrollment process for the new school year," said Pham Anh Quang.

Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Dong Xoai Ward Bui Xuan Linh said the ward currently has two primary schools, one secondary school, and one secondary and high school, with a total enrollment of about 5,000 students. In recent years, the number of students has continued to increase, leading to growing demand for textbooks and school supplies at the beginning of each school year.

According to Bui Xuan Linh, the cost of purchasing textbooks remains a burden for many families, particularly those facing financial difficulties or with two or more children attending school. In response to this situation, Dong Xoai Ward has implemented the Shared Textbook Library model to ensure that 100% of students in the ward have sufficient textbooks at the beginning of the school year. The project is financed through socialized resources, with a budget exceeding 1 billion VND. To date, schools have installed bookshelves, received textbooks from suppliers, and organized textbook borrowing for students in line with the project's objectives.

By Quang Minh – Translated by Minh Hong, Minho