Việt Nam Education Publishing House's deputy general director Lê Huy presents textbooks and reference books to students at the People's Public Security Cultural School No. 5 in HCM City on September 5. — Photos courtesy of the publising house

HCM CITY — The Việt Nam Education Publishing House (VEPH) recently donated more than 18,000 textbooks and reference books to the People's Public Security Cultural School No. 5 in HCM City, marking the start of the first academic year for the newly established school.

The books were delivered to the school, VEPH deputy general director Lê Huy on September 5 at the opening ceremony of the 2026–27 school year.

Located at No. 15 Trường Chinh Street in Bà Rịa Ward, the People's Public Security Cultural School No. 5 is a specialised boarding school established by the Ministry of Public Security in August 2026 to support disadvantaged and vulnerable students.

The school fully covers tuition and boarding costs for students facing hardship, including orphans, children from families entitled to State preferential policies, those under social welfare support and those coming from ethnic communities.

A total of 18,500 books worth nearly VNĐ400 million (US$15,400) were donated by VEPH, which consist of 11,785 textbooks (worth $6,600) and 6,759 reference books (worth nearly $8,800).

They help to stock the school's first bookshelves and open new doors to knowledge for the students.

For the newly established school, this collection of books meets very practical needs: students have the necessary materials for the core curriculum, teachers gain additional teaching resources, and the library begins to build a collection for students to read and explore knowledge outside of class hours.

For students facing numerous obstacles in accessing education including financial hardship, getting textbooks for free helps alleviate some of the burden, laying the groundwork for them to begin the academic year on a relatively level playing field.

Việt Nam Education Publishing House's deputy general director Lê Huy and officers representing the People's Public Security Cultural School No. 5 at the book-giving ceremony.

Speaking at the book-giving ceremony, VEPH deputy general director Lê Huy said that the publining house took great pride in having made a meaningful contribution to the school during its first days of establishment.

Huy stressed that for VEPH, giving books to schools goes beyond merely providing learning materials.

"It is also a way for the publishing sector to make a modest contribution toward narrowing the gap in access to knowledge, especially for students facing difficult circumstances," he said.

"From border regions and remote, isolated areas to specialised educational settings, the journey of these books is always driven by a single goal, which is to ensure that every student, regardless of their starting point, has the opportunity to learn, explore and grow."

On behalf of the school's staff, teachers and students, its principal, Senior Colonel Nguyễn Nguyện Luân, presented a letter of appreciation to the publisher.

The support provided by VEPH was of practical significance to teaching and learning activities, particularly during the school's early stages when facilities and learning resources still required supplementation, Luân said.

"A new school requires classrooms, equipment, laboratories and a library. Yet, beyond these material necessities, books are the crucial in shaping the school's intellectual life," he said.

Books do not merely sit on shelves but will find their way into lessons and accompany students back to their dormitories, opening up opportunities for independent study, questions that go beyond the curriculum, and explorations that teachers might not always have time to fully cover in a single class, Luân said.

For students facing special circumstances, this significance is even more profound, he added.

"For students used to be at risk of dropping out due to their difficult living circumstances, having a complete set of textbooks, additional reading materials, and a stable environment to continue their studies are specially practical and tangible support," said Luân.

"Ensuring a well-equipped learning environment for them is about more than just physical facilities, it is also about providing the means for them to confidently step into a future that transcends the circumstances of their birth.

"A single book may cost only a few tens of thousands of đồng. But for a student, it could be the first lesson, the first passion, or the first question that leads them to a career, a dream, or even a different path in life."

The books given to the People's Public Security Cultural School No. 5 continued VEPH's efforts of delivering books and learning materials to schools across the country, including those in remote, isolated and border areas, as well as specialised educational institutions. — VNS