'Schools free to choose textbooks'

The Ministry of National Education has required elementary schools nationwide to use math books that have been preselected by the ministry, in order to standardize education. The ministry has appointed eight publishers to produce the books. The Jakarta Post spoke with parents and teachers about the issue.

Rohadi, 34, is a teacher at a national plus private school in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta. He lives in Bekasi with his wife and two children:

I assume the government is going for uniformity in education with its new policy on textbooks, particularly the math textbooks for elementary schools.

I disagree with the policy because in this case the government is trying to restrict the publication of school textbooks in the name of uniformity.

Only selected publishers will be allowed to publish the intended school material, restricting other publishers from producing similar textbooks. It's ridiculous.

I would agree if the government let any publisher produce various kinds of textbooks. They could compete for the best publication, the one that is the most creative and attractive.

I'm sure the publishers are far more expert in this matter. It is very helpful to teachers and, above all, education in general.

In this case, schools and teachers and students are free to choose the most appropriate books according to the national curriculum.

I guess the standardization will affect the quality of education because maybe the content of the textbooks will be too difficult for pupils.

I'm sure somehow there is money being made with this new policy. In this case, money is more important than the objectives of education.

Alfi, 29, is a housewife whose son attends an elementary school in Ciledug, Tangerang. She lives in Tangerang with her family:

I doubt the government's new policy will be effective. We are accustomed to seeing the poor implementation of government policies.

This new policy, I'm sure, won't put an end to irregular practices.

It sounds strange the government should impose such a policy on math textbooks.

It will not avoid collusion between publishers and the ministry. So what's the difference?

I assume the new policy will enable some party to get more commission. It's useless, I think.

I'm afraid the government itself has a deal with the selected publishers, in which money matters. The appointed publishers here seem to lack a reputation, if I'm not mistaken.

It's nonsense to think the policy will help students from low- income families afford the textbooks. It sounds crazy.

Sisca, 30, is a housewife with two children. She and her family live in Cilandak, South Jakarta:

I don't care too much about the new policy. I prefer to buy textbooks whichever way is most practical.

Parents are usually ordered to buy a package of textbooks from schools. This year, I paid about Rp 200,000 (US$24) for the package, including math textbooks.

I think the schools must have their own policies in providing the textbooks, depending on the level of education of the students.

I wonder why the government always makes the system more complicated with new policies, when there are many more practical and effective ways to do things. What's the point?

-- Leo Wahyudi S.