“Who” has the right to decide the price of textbooks?

The right to decide the price of textbooks belongs to the publisher

At the question-and-answer session of Minister of Finance Ho Duc Phuc on June 8, many National Assembly deputies asked questions related to the management issues and responsibilities of ministries when placing bookshelves. textbooks increased.

Delegate Dinh Thi Ngoc Dung (Hai Duong province) said that according to the provisions of the Law on Prices and guiding documents, textbook prices are built by enterprises that are publishers themselves, decide the selling prices, are responsible for take responsibility before law for the correctness and suitability of the textbook pricing plan and make declarations with the competent authority, the Ministry of Finance, before putting it on the market.

Therefore, according to delegate Ngoc Dung, it is a fact that the Ministry of Education and Training is responsible for the quality of textbooks, and the Ministry of Finance appraises the prices, causing problems related to management and responsibility. Delegate Ngoc Dung asked the Minister of Finance to share or solve the problem of textbook prices?

After that, delegate Chau Quynh Dao (Kien Giang province) also questioned, more than 2 years ago, the Culture and Education Committee, the Ministry of Education and Training proposed the Ministry of Finance to review and evaluate the overall situation. Implemented the Law on Prices to submit to competent authorities for consideration and addition of textbooks to the State’s List of Valuations, but so far the Ministry has not completed it. Delegate Chau Quynh Dao asked the Minister of Finance to explain the reasons and responsibilities of the Ministry and when will the Ministry complete this recommendation?

Regarding textbook price management, in response to a delegate, Minister of Finance Ho Duc Phuc said that textbooks are not a commodity that is priced by the state, but is on the list of price declarations, so the pricing right belongs to the publisher. copy.

Regarding the point of view of putting textbooks on the list of goods to be priced by the state, according to Minister Ho Duc Phuc, the authority to decide this belongs to the National Assembly. Government agencies are responsible for advising and submitting.

Currently, the Law on Prices is also in the process of being revised and through research, the agencies have agreed to report to the Prime Minister to propose the inclusion of textbooks in the Law on Pricing in the coming time, for the National Assembly to consider and decide.

Will submit a stable, long-term solution for textbook prices

Explaining to the National Assembly about the issue of textbook prices, Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son added that in the near future, the Ministry of Education and Training will coordinate with the Ministry of Finance to carry out necessary procedures to submit to the Government. Parliament for a stable and lasting solution to the problem of textbook prices.

Regarding issues under the state management function of the Ministry of Education and Training, Minister Nguyen Kim Son said that the Ministry of Education and Training is actively drafting a new circular on the regulations and standards of books to better suit the current situation. This regulation will also contribute to the impact on the price of books.

In order to require businesses to save costs, reduce intermediaries, and competitively issue publishing costs, the Ministry of Education and Training has been doing and will continue to do so with Education Publishing House.

The Minister also said that the Ministry of Education and Training has issued Circular 21/2014/TT-BGDDT stipulating the management and use of reference publications in preschool, general and regular education institutions. often.

In which, it is clearly stated that “teachers and education administrators at all levels must not abuse their positions to carry out or participate in the implementation of coercion, mobilizing students, trainees or parents to learn students, students buy reference publications in any form”.

Therefore, the Minister wishes that localities together with the Ministry of Education and Training continue to control this in schools in their areas to avoid causing anger in the public.