'Something wrong with govt, publishers'<\/p>\n
The Ministry of National Education is to issue a new policy which
\nwill ban direct deals between publishers and schools or teachers.
\nIt intends to use selected mathematics textbooks in a bid to
\nstandardize the quality of national education. The government has
\nallocated Rp 150 billion (US$17.6 million) for the nationwide
\nproject and assigned eight different publishers to provide the
\ntextbooks. The Jakarta Post asked some headmasters to share their
\nthoughts on the issue.<\/p>\n
Ayadi, 34, is a principal at a private elementary school in
\nKranji, Bekasi. He lives in Jati Sampurna, Bekasi with his wife
\nand daughter:<\/p>\n
I don't know about the government policy. But personally, I
\nthink the policy would ease the burden on the schools to provide
\ntextbooks.<\/p>\n
Instead, the parents will have to buy the textbooks. So far,
\nwe have assisted the parents in this matter.<\/p>\n
However, I wonder why it is limited to mathematics textbooks.
\nThere is something wrong between the government and the
\npublishers.<\/p>\n
If the policy is to be seriously imposed, it should not be
\nlimited only to mathematics but include all subjects.<\/p>\n
It would be far better to assign a government publisher like
\nBalai Pustaka as it is a reputable company.<\/p>\n
In a way, we consider textbooks a complimentary tool to
\ninstruction. The main point is the mastery of the teaching
\nmaterials by the teachers.<\/p>\n
Turiman, 52, is a deputy principal of a private elementary
\nschool in Bekasi. He resides in Duren Jaya, Bekasi with his wife
\nand three children:<\/p>\n
Frankly I haven't heard about the policy on mathematics
\ntextbook distribution here.<\/p>\n
However, if it is implemented I don't have any problem with
\nit, provided that there is not a profit-taking orientation among
\nthe parties involved.<\/p>\n
Learning from past experience, I am afraid there will be
\nirregularities in the textbooks provision between the government
\nand the publishers under the new policy.<\/p>\n
But I would agree if the schools deal directly with the
\npublishers because it is more beneficial. We usually will get
\naround 30 percent discount.<\/p>\n
The schools can ask for a 5 percent discount for the students
\nfrom the publishers and the accumulated 30 percent discount for
\nthe school can also be allotted for the students.<\/p>\n
Under the new policy, I think it's impossible to get much of a
\ndiscount from the bookstores.<\/p>\n
Financially speaking, the school would not get any profit from
\nthe new policy. But the school would have less responsibility
\nsince the parents will have to go and buy them at the bookstores.<\/p>\n
Diana, 38, is a principal of a private elementary school in
\nTaman Galaksi, Bekasi. She lives in Perumnas, Bekasi with her
\nhusband:<\/p>\n
I am not aware of the new government policy dealing with
\ntextbook provision.<\/p>\n
I just wonder whether or not the bookstores can cover all the
\nschools needs. It would be different if the publishers supplied
\nthe textbooks directly to the schools because they have a stock.<\/p>\n
In addition, the bookstores will surely mark up the book
\nprices to get a profit. It will burden the parents.<\/p>\n
I don't know if there is some sort of collusion between the
\npublishers and the schools. As school principal, I am not aware
\nof the technicalities.<\/p>\n
I only know the standard procedures. Before making a deal, we
\nassign a team to study the textbooks offered by publishers.<\/p>\n
With the new policy, I wonder whether there is any guarantee
\nthat there will be no more collusion.<\/p>\n
I also wonder why the policy is only for mathematics
\ntextbooks? What about the other subjects? It seems the government
\nis trying to force its policy on the schools, which to some
\nextent can make the teachers uncreative.<\/p>\n
I mean to say that the teachers actually have the capability
\nto create their own books based on real experiences, rather than
\nrelying on the publishers.<\/p>\n
-- Leo Wahyudi S.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/something-wrong-with-govt-publishers-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }