Tension reigns as publishers get ready for textbook vetting

Jun 11, 2001

In a bid to streamline textbook procurement, the Ministry of Education will on June 20 choose three publishers to supply books

In a bid to streamline textbook procurement, the Ministry of Education will on June 20 choose three publishers to supply books in state primary schools for the next five years. But publishing houses are divided on the role of the curriculum body writes Education Vision's Anthony Mugeere OPINION is divided on the role of the National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC) in vetting textbooks ahead of June 20. This is the deadline for opening bids from publishers for the evaluation of textbooks for volume one of the new primary school curriculum. Publishers are arguing that the involvement of NCDC officials in publishing and the vetting exercise will create unfair competition because it comprises individuals with vested interests in the industry. There are also some ministry and NCDC officials who have not declared their interest in the industry to the ministry yet they write and edit books for private publishing firms, some publishers allege. "The involvement of the NCDC in publishing is creating unfair competition because this is a state body using public funds," said a renowned Kampala publisher under anonymity. "Government should completely divest itself from publishing and only act as an evaluator to control standards." A section of publishers are also still grumbling at the ministry's decision to limit the number of publishers to three. These are the ones government will buy textbook books from for the next five years. So those who miss out will not be able to supply text books to government school during thst period. Under cycle eight of the Support Uganda Primary Education Reform (SUPER) project, government has been supplying schools with textbooks. However, some publishers feel that the move to streamline textbook procurement is intended to protect the well established publishers. According to the terms for the evaluation of textbooks to be supplied under cycle eight, issued on December 29, 2000, the Ministry of Education and Sports said a maximum of only three textbooks per subject and grade level will be approved. Any decision to amend the number of permitted approved textbooks, the ministry added, will only be taken at the time of the introduction of a new revised curriculum. Mr. Fred Matovu, the chairman of the Uganda Publishers Association (UPA) said: "Having only three titles is just a compromise. This is not what many publishers would want. But having 10 or so copies was making it difficult for teachers to follow the syllabus. It was like conducting a sermon using different Bibles." Cycle eight will involve the evaluation and approval of textbooks and teachers' guides for English, Mathematics, Integrated Science and Social Studies (P1-P4) and Religious Education and Agriculture (P4 only). Publishers are required to submit their proposals to the Ministry of Education and Sports for approval by June 20. The Textbook Vetting Committee (TVC) will then approve and award the contracts to the successful publishers by December. Stock delivery to decentralised districts is expected to be made in March next year while that for centralised stocks is expected to follow in April. Members of the evaluation panel for each subject will be recommended by the Inspectorate Department and approved by the Director of Education. Full-time employees, authors, advisors, consultants, directors, shareholders and board members of participating publishers are not legible for appointment on the panel. The measure, say ministry officials, is aimed at eliminating possible conflict of interest for persons who sit on NCDC subject panels but are not full-time employees of the Kyambogo-based curriculum body. Mr. Fagil Mandy, the acting commissioner, Inspectorate Department, said the publishers' complaint on the role of the NCDC in vetting and publishing is being addressed by the ministry. "We have received their complaint on the NCDC and it will be clarified by the permanent secretary (PS)," he said. Mr. Francis Lubanga, the PS, was not available for comment. Mandy, however, said the ministry will not change its position on the three textbook titles per subject per class. "That one was cleared and all those who have submitted their bids agreed to it," he told Education Vision. Although the guidelines mainly emphasise the minimum physical specifications like binding styles, size of the text, paper and cover card, publishers must score a minimum of 48 marks or 80% of the 60 marks allocated for pedagogy (curriculum conformity). "This is the first disqualifying step and any publisher who fails to satisfy the committee on this will be disqualified straight away," an official from the ministry's Planning Unit said. Only the textbooks that will be evaluated and approved by the TVC basing on the new guidelines will be eligible for purchase with the ministry of Education funding for use in state primary schools. Publishers are, however, free to re-submit the existing textbooks for evaluation and approval for the new curriculum. They may also be re-submitted with adaptations to bring them into line with new curriculum and vetting requirements. Every textbook proposal submitted must, however, be accompanied by teachers' notes or a teachers' guide. Publishers are required to produce durable books that can last for three years in P1 to P3 and four years in P4 to P7. Textbooks with a lot of Ugandan content and relevant local examples will score highly during vetting. Other factors that will add weight and importance to textbooks include the inclusion of life skills, equitable gender skills, representaion of people with special learning difficulties operating successfully in normal life and the inclusion of child to child approaches. Teachers interviewed welcomed the new guidelines saying they will ensure that only good quality books are supplied to schools. "The ministry used to supply many titles for the same subject and class which created a lot of confusion," said a long serving mathematics teacher. He added: "This problem will end with the new condition of only three titles. We also expect the books supplied under this arrangement to be durable if the vetting committee sticks to the physical requirements spelt out under the terms of the cycle." Every textbook proposal submitted must, however, be accompanied by teachers' notes or a teachers' guide. Publishers are required to produce durable books that can last for three years in P1 to P3 and four years in P4 to P7. Textbooks with a lot of local content and relevant local examples will score highly. Other factors that will add weight and importance include life skills, equitable gender skills, representation of people with special learning difficulties operating successfully in normal life and the inclusion of child to child approaches. Teachers interviewed welcomed the new guidelines saying they will ensure that only good quality books are supplied to schools. "The ministry used to supply many titles for the same subject and class which created a lot of confusion," said a long serving maths teacher. "This problem will end with the new condition of only three titles. We also expect the books supplied under this arrangement to be durable," he added. ends

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