'Schools must shop at store'<\/p>\n
Sari P. Setiogi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Following the recent polemic on the controversial Education Law,
\nthe government is set to issue another contentious elementary
\nschool textbook policy, which contradicts educational autonomy.<\/p>\n
Director General for Elementary and Intermediate Education at
\nthe Ministry of Education Indra Djati Sidi said on Friday that
\nthe government would issue a new regulation that required all
\nelementary schools to purchase mathematics textbooks from
\nbookstores -- and not directly from publishers as in the past --
\nto be distributed free to all students.<\/p>\n
He said that under the regulation, which will take effect on
\nJan. 1, 2004, the education ministry would pre-select eight math
\ntextbooks for purchase at bookstores; schools must choose a
\ntextbook from among these eight, and those violating the
\nregulation would be given harsh sanctions.<\/p>\n
Indra explained that the education ministry would cooperate
\nwith the Association of Indonesian Bookstores (GATBI) to
\ndistribute the textbooks to stores.<\/p>\n
He said the new policy was made to stop the current practice
\nof schools purchasing textbooks directly from publishers, a
\npractice which had disadvantaged students, especially those from
\nlow-income families.<\/p>\n
All elementary schools, including state-run ones, have direct
\ndeals with specific publishers to profit from sales commissions,
\nalthough the government, in cooperation with state publishing
\ncompany PT Balai Pustaka, provides textbooks for all schools in
\nthe nation.<\/p>\n
The new policy will likely meet with opposition from numerous
\nsides, including schools, since it will not resolve the issue.<\/p>\n
Elementary schools will likely oppose the new regulation
\nbecause it runs contrary to Law No. 20\/2003 on educational
\nautonomy, under which schools manage their curricula and
\nfacilities, including textbook purchases.<\/p>\n
According to Article 51 of the law, school heads, teachers and
\ntheir aides comprise the school management with the authority to
\nprovide educational services.<\/p>\n
Even with the new policy, however, there will be no guarantee
\nthat schools will not strike new deals with bookstores as they
\nhave done with publishers.<\/p>\n
Although the textbooks are to be distributed free for all
\nstudents, schools subsidized by the government to supply the
\ntextbooks will be tempted to collude with bookstores for sales
\ncommissions, because the stores' profit will depend on book
\nsales.<\/p>\n
The education ministry and the Ministry of Religious Affairs
\nhave been slammed for the recent enactment of the controversial
\nEducation Law, which requires all schools to provide religion
\nclasses for all beliefs represented in their student bodies, even
\nfor those schools following a specific religion.<\/p>\n
The government has allocated Rp 150 billion (US$17.6 million)
\nfor the textbook project, and elementary schools will receive Rp
\n7.2 million each for the math books.<\/p>\n
Students will borrow the textbooks from schools during the
\nacademic year, and the schools are expected to maintain the books
\nfor at least five years.<\/p>\n
Chairman of GATBI Firdaus Umar told The Jakarta Post schools
\nwould be required to purchase the math books from bookstores to
\nhalt schools and teachers from doing business with publishers.<\/p>\n
Wukir Ragil, head of the Book Center at the ministry, which is
\nverifying textbooks, hailed the new regulation as it aimed to
\nprovide standard math textbooks and ensure the quality of
\nelementary education.<\/p>\n
The marketing officer of publishing company PT Remaja Rosda
\nKarya, Wardoyo, confirmed that his company was one of the eight
\npublishers appointed to publish the math book.<\/p>\n
Several other publishers contacted by the Post declined to
\ngive any information on the direct sales system.<\/p>\n
Firdaus said the new regulation was expected to prevent
\nteachers and schools from making a profit from book sales
\ncommissions through publishers.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/schools-must-shop-at-store-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}