Fair competition for textbooks vital<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Book Publishers Association
\n(IKAPI) called on the government on Tuesday to deregulate the
\nbusiness of publishing mandatory school textbooks in order to
\ninvigorate the industry.<\/p>\n
IKAPI chairman Arselan Harahap told reporters that by
\npromoting open and fair competition, many publishing houses,
\nincluding those in the region, would have a better chance of
\nsurviving the tough economic times.<\/p>\n
The government should allow all publishers to produce and sell
\nmandatory school textbooks, the right of which were currently
\nonly given out to publishers contracted after competitive
\ntenders.<\/p>\n
A dose of competition would compel all publishers to strive to
\nproduce better textbooks, Arselan said.<\/p>\n
\"It will encourage entrepreneurs in the regions to open
\npublishing houses and produce quality books,\" he said during a
\nmedia briefing on IKAPI's annual Indonesia Book Fair, which opens
\nat the Jakarta Convention Center on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's book-publishing industry has been badly hurt by
\nthe economic crisis over the last four years. IKAPI now counts
\njust 450 members, down from 650 before the crisis, 90 percent of
\nthese are located on Java.<\/p>\n
With the sales of general books in the doldrums, the business
\nof publishing government-mandated school textbooks is one of the
\nfew sectors that offered publishers some respite. The government
\ntraditionally tenders the right to publish school textbooks, a
\npractice that allegedly is wrought with corruption.<\/p>\n
Arselan said the government would not completely wash its
\nhands by subjecting the business of publishing mandatory school
\ntextbooks to open competition.<\/p>\n
\"The government still has to provide guidelines for these
\ntextbooks according to the national curriculum,\" he said. \"The
\ngovernment must also monitor the quality of the books,\" he added.<\/p>\n
These mandatory books are distributed freely to government-run
\nschools throughout the country. They are then lent to students.<\/p>\n
Instead of allocating money to publishers to provide free
\nbooks, the government should give the money to schools, which in
\nturn would decide which textbooks were more suitable for their
\nstudents, Arselan said. (07)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/fair-competition-for-textbooks-vital-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}