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• As publishers seek review of policy framework
By Kehinde Aderemi
As part of efforts to reduce the cost of education for parents, the Ministry of Education recently announced a policy that prioritised the use of standardised, durable textbooks designed to last between four and six years. The ministry also prohibited bundling of disposable workbooks with textbooks in schools.
The new directive, according to the ministry, was aimed at improving learning outcomes and promoting sustainability in schools through adoption of reusable, high quality textbooks and strengthening quality assurance mechanism.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, in a recent statement said the approach was to ensure that learning materials could be reused across multiple academic sessions, thus reducing the huge financial burden on parents.
This initiative, the reporter learnt, would also allow siblings to share textbooks, lower the recurring education costs for parents, and reduce waste within the school system, thereby, supporting environmental sustainability.
The minister also announced the introduction of a uniform academic calendar to promote consistency in teaching, learning and school planning across the country.
According to the minister, the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) will continue to play a central role in the assessment and quality assurance of instructional materials, working closely with relevant education agencies to ensure that only high quality, curriculum – aligned textbooks are approved for use in schools nationwide.
As the new educational policy framework takes effect, findings revealed that there seemed to be a mixed feeling among stakeholders in the sector. While the parents and teachers across all sections see the new development as a blessing to the sector, publishers as well as other stakeholders in education sectors have raised concern over the sustainability of the new policy.
In her remarks, Hajia Rasheedat Mustapha, a fashion designer and mother of four, said the new policy was a big relief for parents. Mustapha said with the new policy, parents would be happy that they have been relieved of their expenses.
“When I first heard the news of the new policy on the radio, I thought it was not possible because there are some people, publishers, printers, and even school proprietors and proprietresses that are making more money yearly by printing and buying textbooks for schools. But now, I think it is a welcome development and I believe that every parent and guardian would be happy to hear the news.
“As a mother, I know how much we spend every year on textbooks and it is unfortunate when our younger children cannot use the textbooks earlier used by their elder siblings.
“ When I was growing up, I reused many of my brothers and sisters’ textbooks. Textbooks like the New General Mathematics, MacMillan, Alawiye, a Yoruba textbook, and many others. I was the fifth born in a family of seven and I knew what it was to reuse the textbooks used by my older siblings.
“Apart from the fact that it reduces the cost of education and bring a lot of relief to parents, especially now that the economic situation in the country is not too good, it also brings a feeling of joy that you use your brother or sister’s textbook.”
Mustapha urged owners of private schools, and the teachers to cooperate with the Federal Government in sustaining the new policy.
“I want to appeal to teachers and school proprietors to cooperate with the government in ensuring that the new initiative stands the test of time,” she said.
Principal Assistant Education Officer 11, Saint Saviour Anglican Primary School, Ikorodu, Mrs. Ezemba Francisca Ifeoma, said she was happy that the new policy would enhance learning and bring about a big relief to parents.
“Honestly, I am very happy about the new policy, because it will help so many families to get their children back to school. Parents spend so much in buying textbooks for their children and as a teacher, it affected me too.
“For instance, in my own case, my fourth daughter could not use the textbooks that were previously used by her sisters. I had to buy another set of textbooks for my daughter.
“Besides, during our days in school, our younger ones could reuse our textbooks and we are always happy to use the ones given to us by our elder brothers or sisters too. Now that the Federal Government had intervened with the new policy, it would reduce the cost of buying textbooks and make textbooks available for students.
“The problem gets worse with the publishers publishing textbooks with workbooks. But I suggest that there should be a separate workbook for students instead of producing it with the textbooks.
“The textbooks should be separated from the workbook so that the younger ones will be able to make use of the textbooks. And students should be allowed to use the workbook separately if there is a need for that, so that the younger ones coming up will be able to use it.
“We must support the new policy because this would also help indigent students and those that are vulnerable,” she said.
A publisher and Managing director and Chief Executive Officer, Readwright book company, Mr. Ayodeji Oguntunase, said the new policy was not feasible.
Oguntunase explained further that the cost of publishing in Nigeria is huge and publishers are going through hell to get their books published not even to talk of selling those books.
He also expressed concern that government is not doing enough to assist publishers like it is done in other sectors. He maintained also that the new policy would only frustrate publishers and the sector may not survive the challenges.
“The initiative, to me is not feasible because the era of when a child will reuse a book for a couple of years is far gone.
“The microeconomics that made that possible then is no longer there. The enrolment level then was very small compared to what we have now.
“At that time, government was involved and government was buying those books and the publishing outfits were fewer then. The situation of the economy then was profitable for them. But today, things have really changed. We have a huge number of enrolments. The education environment has changed. Teachers were more committed in the past than what is happening these days.
“Teachers will only recommend books that have question and answers prepared for them in the textbook. I mean they are not motivated enough.
“A situation where you have graduates being paid N18,000 naira, N25,000 naira in a private school. So what do you expect? What kind of commitment do you expect? And even when the government talks about the minimum wage of 70,000, can they enforce it in those private schools? No. These are the challenges.
“Publishing companies in Nigeria like that of my own face a lot of challenges especially now that most of the printing materials are imported.
“For instance, if you ask publishers to publish a book for one year and go and sit down for another five years before they print another edition, how would they survive?
“In an economy where we can’t produce printing paper. A rim of paper now is sold for 39,000 naira. So they must devise their own internal dynamics for surviving as publishers.
“So, what government is talking about is posing a direct challenge to publishing. But government is not providing publishers funding. Government is not providing any support for publishers. Other sectors of the economy receive support. What is government policy, national policy on book publishing?
“Government has been investing through UBEC on provision of books through selected publishers. We are talking of patronising other publishers where you have several thousands of them. So how do you expect others to survive?
“When we were growing up, the economy was in good shape. The cost of living wasn’t as high as it is. Even a private school was not as high as it is today. When I was growing up in the 80s, in my secondary school, I could count the number of private schools that existed. I am one of those who enjoyed a privileged life. I grew up in Mushin.
“ In the whole of Mushin, we could count the number of private schools; there were just less than ten. And I attended one of them. We have very few of them here and there. But look at the typical neighbourhood now.
“If you count the numbers of private schools in your neighbourhood now, the numbers are huge and more are still coming up whether they are volatile or not. And we want to make provisions for them.
“So you cannot compare the economy of that time with the economy of today. All the inputs for publishing, the major inputs for printing and publishing is import -dependent.
“Even if you go to the government press, would they print for you at a cheaper cost? No, because they also face the same cost implications.
“Though, people are happy that this new development will at least save them from spending more, but the hard truth we all must face is that as parents we must pay for the education of our children. But we don’t want to face it.
“The government wants to appear to be a socialist government. Whereas the truth is that we are running a capitalist system. You cannot arm twist people just to please parents. You are not a publisher.
“The government cannot produce books. Let them commission a publishing office. Let them commission authors. Let them factor in all the costs. Let them print books that the children will use for five years and let us see if that company will stand”, he said.
