The merging of administrative units has altered the names and boundaries of many localities, which in turn affects the accuracy of content in several subjects, particularly History, Geography, and Civic Education. Many passages in the current textbooks no longer align with reality, prompting worries among parents, especially those whose children are preparing for final exams in the C00 subject group (Literature - History - Geography).

“My daughter is in this subject stream from Grade 10. Now some textbook content no longer matches reality because many place names have changed or disappeared. Since this year we are still using the old textbooks, I worry whether this will affect her knowledge and exam performance, because the books say one thing, while reality is another,” shared Chu Thị Liên, a parent from Điện Biên Phủ ward with a child entering Grade 12.

Sharing similar concerns, Nguyễn Công Thành, whose child is entering Grade 5, noted that textbook content on administrative geography is no longer accurate following the boundary adjustments. “For example, in the Grade 5 History and Geography textbook (the ‘Connecting Knowledge to Life’ series), the very first lesson on territory and administrative units still states that ‘Vietnam has 63 provinces and centrally-run cities.’ After the mergers, this is no longer correct, yet the current printed textbooks cannot be updated immediately,” he said.

Such concerns are widespread among parents, particularly those with children in the final grades, as the new school year is approaching and schools will continue to use the previously selected textbooks.

To ensure accuracy while awaiting new editions, the provincial Department of Education and Training has directed schools to implement several measures: organize training sessions to update teachers with the new administrative information; guide subject groups on how to integrate adjustments into their teaching plans; and develop supplementary materials with updated names, statistics, and boundaries for use alongside the old textbooks.

Teachers across the province have been preparing with the spirit of “summer break but not a break from work.” Weekly subject-group meetings, both in person and online, have been held to devise practical teaching solutions for the new school year.

Bùi Thị Anh, Principal of Lê Quý Đôn Gifted High School, explained: “Teaching with the old textbooks but conveying new information requires us to actively use reliable sources to update lessons. Recently, we sent five History and Geography teachers to training so they can review lesson content, identify outdated details, and adapt their teaching accordingly.”

With years of experience in Geography, Nguyễn Văn Tới, Principal of Mường Pồn Secondary School, suggested using updated maps, mind maps, and visual materials, and even organizing activities that compare ‘before’ and ‘after’ the mergers to help students clearly distinguish outdated from current information. He also encourages students to note down the updated details in the margins of their textbooks or notebooks to avoid confusion.

Adjusting the curriculum is essential given the changes in administrative boundaries. While waiting for new textbooks, teachers’ flexibility in adapting lesson content ensures that students still gain accurate knowledge. This approach not only reassures parents but also maintains the quality of teaching and learning.