'Schools free to choose textbooks'

'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.