Table of Content Section1|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9 Appendix1|2|3|4|5|6|7 Notes|Executive Summary|Download(PDF format, 798KB) SECTION EIGHT - OVERSEAS EXAMPLES OF TEXTBOOK POLICY 8.1        This section provides a brief summary of the characteristics of textbook supply policy in 19 countries/places: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mainland China, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, UK and USA. Information in this section provided by ED and various overseas consumer associations, and government information sources. 8.2        The following section does not reflect a detailed overview of textbook policy in the above jurisdictions but serves as a stimulant to provoke further discussion. A table summarising the policies against common variables is also provided at Table 6.  Summary 8.3        In summary, as far as textbook selection is concerned, most countries adopt the 'review system' (where textbooks are reviewed against a set of established education principles). Only a few countries, such as Mainland China, adopt 'centralised textbook publishing' or 'state published' textbooks. In Mainland China the education authorities are responsible for editing and publishing textbooks for primary and secondary schools. Textbooks are prepared in accordance with curriculum syllabuses laid down by the authorities.  8.4        The trend overseas appears to be one of moving gradually towards free choice, although it is common for there to some sort of recommended list of 'approved' titles for school reference. 8.5        The degree of approval can vary. In some jurisdictions, such as Hong Kong, ED gives a passing grade to the textbooks reviewed instead of giving a 'quality mark'. The Netherlands has a consumer guide, while in Australia source books are published to assist schools and teachers in textbook selection.  8.6        The way in which textbooks are made available to students can be classified into three kinds. There is 'free provision' which means the government provides textbooks to students for free and students do not have to return the textbooks after use. There is a 'loan system' which means the government or school authorities provide textbooks to students for free. In some circumstances there may be a small rental fee or deposit. With the loan system, as the name implies, students have to return the books after use. Last, there is the 'purchasing system' which means students have to buy textbooks themselves; as in Hong Kong.  8.7        As 'free provision' incurs a heavy financial burden on the government, very few countries, such as Japan, are using this system.  8.8        Under the 'loan system', government provides funding for textbook purchases which are made available to students but they have to return the textbooks at the end of school year to let other students re-use them. Normally, the textbooks will be re-used for 3-4 years. 'Loan system' is practiced in many western countries such as Canada, USA and Germany as part of free education. The 'loan system' is usually more common at primary and lower secondary levels. At upper secondary levels, in some jurisdictions parents may need to buy textbooks themselves.  8.9        With regard to the 'purchasing system', assistance may be provided for those students who are accepted by the authorities as being in need of financial assistance. The purchasing system is more commonly practiced in Asia (e.g. Hong Kong, Mainland China, Singapore and Taiwan).  Details on individual country/place Australia 8.10        In Australia, the annual sales turnover of textbooks is estimated to be AUS$76,100,000 for primary schools and AUS$71,200,000 for secondary schools. 8.11        Education policy is a responsibility of each state or territory government, and there are no regulatory bodies overseeing the price and content of textbooks. The selection of textbooks is largely determined by teachers, although practice can vary between state governments and schools. For example, in Queensland, the Department of Education publishes source books to support the mathematics and social education syllabuses.  8.12       In the eight states and territories that make up Australia, curriculum revision is underway on a constant basis. 8.13        Textbooks are mostly commercially produced. As normal market practice, publishers do not provide free teaching aids or gifts, but only give out complimentary copies to schools. In relation to textbook prices, there are recommended retail prices but discount rates vary among publishers. The textbook market is competitive with no one publisher being dominant.  8.14        Governments fund compulsory schooling in Australia to varying degrees, depending on the type of school. Only public schools can spend funding on textbooks. Textbooks are usually recycled amongst students, in effect, borrowing textbooks from schools. There may be some request for parents' contributions, and communities often contribute to the expenses of their local schools. Private schools may receive a level of government subsidy, but still charge fees to students for borrowing textbooks, or require them to be purchased. Some schools also develop sponsorship arrangements with local businesses to provide extra funding. 8.15        Choice of textbooks largely rests with teachers, having regard to the established curriculum.  Canada 8.16        Textbooks are commercially produced in Canada. The Ministry of Education evaluates the learning resources and provides the Provincially Recommended Resources List. For example, in British Columbia, learning resources, including books, videos, and electronic resources, etc., are evaluated by the Curriculum Branch, Ministry of Education under the Continuous Submission Process.  8.17        Schools select the teaching materials from the Provincially Recommended Resources List. Instead of using a single textbook in each subject, there is a trend of using a variety of materials selected from the List.  8.18        Schools usually provide textbooks on loan to students without parents' contribution. 8.19        In calendar year 1996, the total education expenditure amounted to CAN$14.50 billion, with books and supplies taking up only 1% of the share in Ontario. In addition to a one-time CAN$100 million investment in the purchase of textbooks and other learning materials, Ontario committed CAN$150 per elementary pupil for books in 1998-99.  France 8.20        Textbooks are commercially produced. All textbooks must conform to the agreed curriculum and be approved by the national Minister of Education. The Minister of Education issues official recommendations/guidelines for the textbook publishers. 8.21        Schools/teachers choose their required textbooks from the recommended/approval list or in accordance with course syllabus in upper secondary. Selection of textbooks is made together by the groups of teachers and school head. 8.22        Schools provide textbooks on loan without parents' contribution, except when the books are damaged or lost. At post-compulsory levels, i.e. upper secondary levels, parents purchase textbooks individually from bookshops (which may offer retail discounts, e.g. 5% off list price) or through PTA (parents & teachers associations, in which case the discounted price may be as much as 20-45% off the list price)  8.23        Textbooks are normally re-used for a period of 4 years.  Germany 8.24        Textbooks are commercially produced. Education authority prescribes cost, content, format and quality and provides a recommended list. The Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs publishes the recommended list regularly. Teachers select textbooks from the recommended list. The selection of textbooks is made collectively by subject teachers, which in some cases, have to consult parents' and students' representatives and to gain approval from schools' inspectorate. 8.25        School provides textbooks to students on loan without parents' contribution. 8.26        Textbooks can normally be re-used for several years.  Hungary 8.27        Textbooks are commercially produced. Education authority generally prescribes content, approves and provides recommended list. The recommended list is published each year. Teachers choose textbooks from the list. Selection of textbooks is by individual teachers or school altogether. 8.28        Parents buy textbooks. Government provides assistance for those in need of financial assistance. Italy 8.29        Textbooks are produced by commercial publishers. Government issues a circular every year on textbook price and frequency of updates, but does not prescribe or approve textbooks. Government takes steps to reduce financial burden on families by recommending that given the same educational value, less expensive books should be chosen; forbid any change in textbooks during the course for which they have been adopted; and allow students to use earlier editions of textbooks.  8.30        Selection of textbooks is by teacher councils comprising all school teachers and parents' representatives. 8.31        Textbooks are provided free to students at primary level. Parents buy textbooks thereafter; some financial assistances are available.  Japan 8.32        Textbooks are state/commercially produced (with state approval). The School Education Law stipulates that all textbooks must either be authorized by the Minister of Education, Science and Culture or published under the Ministry's copyright. The Ministry of Education has the power to reject or to revise the unsuitable texts. 8.33        Selection of textbooks is at the discretion of local boards of education, school principals or head teachers. Choice is limited to the list of authorized textbooks. 8.34        Textbooks are offered free to public school students at the expense of the national treasury from 1969. Students in compulsory primary and lower secondary education are given a complete set of new textbooks at the beginning of each school year. These books are students' own property. Students in post-compulsory levels buy their own textbooks,  Korea 8.35        Textbooks are state/commercially produced (with state authorization). Education authority compiles some and authorizes and approves other textbooks. Selection of textbooks must be chosen from authorized or approved textbooks. 8.36        School provides textbooks free to students at primary level and students may keep the textbooks. Thereafter, parents buy textbooks but costs are kept low.  Mainland China 8.37        The education authorities in Mainland China are responsible for editing and publishing textbooks for the use of primary and secondary school pupils[26] . Textbooks are prepared in accordance with curriculum syllabuses laid down by the authorities. In order to ensure quality textbooks, review of textbooks is done at both central and provincial levels. A selected company undertakes the printing and retailing of textbooks. Students in Mainland China use uniform textbooks.  8.38        With regard to textbook prices, all students pay a standard price as determined by government.  8.39        With regard to teaching aids, government restricts publishers to providing only free desk copies of pupils' texts and teachers' guides. Students or parents need to buy their textbooks from bookstores. Netherlands 8.40        Textbooks are commercially produced. Commercial publishers pay the National Institute for Curriculum Development (NICL) to offer them consultation services. 8.41        A consumer guide is issued to assist schools in selecting teaching materials in the market place. NICL provides and renews the list of evaluated teaching materials (including textbooks and educational software) every year. Information such as abstracts of the materials, year of publication and the price of items are also included in the list for convenient searching by teachers. 8.42        Selection of textbooks is determined by teachers.  8.43        Textbooks are purchased by schools on the free market with reference to the consumer guide (noted above) and information offered byNICL. 8.44        School provides textbooks on loan to students at primary level. Some secondary schools also provide textbooks to students. At upper secondary level, students often contribute to the cost.  New Zealand 8.45        New Zealand adopts a non-textbook-based curriculum. Curriculum-related materials are produced both by public and commercial sources. For public-published materials, they are developed either by the Learning Media or the New Zealand Council for Educational Research, under the government funding on a contractual basis.  8.46        The curriculum-related materials of both sources, i.e. public and commercial, are all available from the Ministry of Education's web site. 8.47        Owing to a non-textbook based curriculum, teachers themselves have the discretion to choose textbooks, if any, to be used in their lessons. 8.48        Schools may provide set textbooks in the above circumstances. If students have other textbooks recommended to them, these are bought by parents. Norway 8.49        In Norway, local and regional education authorities grant resources for teaching materials in primary and secondary schools including maps, overheads, computer hardware and software. Some expenses are also covered by the state. 8.50        During compulsory schooling, notebooks and pencils are supplied to pupils free of charge, and textbooks are provided on loan by schools (also free of charge). Only students in upper secondary education have to buy their own materials and textbooks. Textbooks for primary and secondary education must be officially approved. 8.51        A special system provides support for the production of textbooks in areas with a small number of students, e.g. specialised vocational subjects and parallel language editions in New Norwegian (Norway's second official language). The support schemes only apply to upper secondary education. Singapore 8.52        The Ministry of Education authors some subject titles related to National Education, Civics & Moral Education and the Mother Tongue Languages. Publishers are invited through open tenders to co-publish with the Ministry. Tenders are awarded on the lowest price, to reflect competitive pricing. 8.53        For other subjects, textbooks are commercially produced. Publishers are bound to produce quality instructional materials within a stipulated timeframe, at reasonable prices. The Ministry reviews and approves textbooks produced by commercial publishers before they are included in the approved textbook list. The commercial titles are reviewed for suitability against the Ministry's curriculum syllabuses. 8.54        Schools/teachers choose textbooks from the recommended list.  8.55        Revision of curriculum is according to actual needs. There is no specific period for curriculum review. Based on past trends, the Ministry curriculum goes through a 6-8 year cycle in Singapore. 8.56        As far as textbook prices are concerned, all students pay a standard price as approved by the Ministry. Students in need of financial assistance can apply for free textbooks. With regard to teaching aids, schools in principle have to buy their own. Publishers will provide free desk copies of pupils' materials and teachers' guides, if any. Spain 8.57        Textbooks are commercially produced under the supervision of the Ministry of Education and Culture. Educational material publishers have to produce textbooks in adherence to the Royal Decree 388/1992. The Ministry provides a recommended textbook list and schools/teachers select their textbooks from the list. Books are not normally replaced within 4 years unless they have the approval of the Ministry.  8.58        Parents buy textbooks, with mean-tested grants available to assist those in need. Sweden 8.59        Textbooks are usually published by commercial publishers. No approved/Recommended Textbook List. Schools/teachers are free to select their textbooks. Schools provide textbooks for compulsory levels. At post-compulsory levels, some schools may occasionally request a parental contribution for certain items. Switzerland 8.60        Textbooks are commercially produced with educational authorities approval. Educational authorities prescribe content and provide recommended lists for textbooks used up to the compulsory level of education. Educational authorities also write up teaching materials in collaboration with other regional authorities. Teachers choose materials from the recommended list and are not allowed to create their own teaching materials. Schools provide textbooks to students at primary and junior secondary levels. At upper secondary levels, no national body regulates material used. Teachers are free to choose from the market and parents buy textbooks at upper secondary levels.  Taiwan 8.61        Taiwan implements nine years' compulsory education for primary and junior high schools.  8.62       The Taiwan Book Store is a government agency under the Taiwan Provincial Department of Education, which is responsible for editing and publishing elementary and high school textbooks. However, there are currently publicly and privately published textbooks in use. Both are written and reviewed in accordance with the government's approved syllabuses. 8.63        The curriculum currently goes through a 10-year cycle but the frequency of revision is expected to be reduced in due course.  8.64        Since 1996, the Taiwan government's market liberalisation policy has enabled private publishers to secure a larger share of the textbook market. The policy has commenced in elementary schools and the government has planned to implement the policy to all high schools in the near future. The Department is responsible for evaluating and approving privately prepared textbooks. Publishers are bound to produce quality educational materials in accordance with the stipulated syllabus at reasonable prices. There are approximately four to five privately prepared textbooks for each subject.  8.65        The Department of Education is also a regulatory body which oversees the price of textbooks. Textbook prices to schools are set out at the beginning of the school year. However, this practice is being changed for privately prepared textbooks. Textbook prices for elementary schools are determined through negotiation between government/schools and publishers, as publishers are free to set recommended retail prices.  8.66        For over 30 years of time, Taiwan adopted a purchase system, i.e. students buy their own textbooks. But it had once changed to free provision due to political reason. It however turned back to purchase system. Nowadays, students buy their textbooks in most elementary and junior high schools. Sixteen provinces have changed to purchase system and nine remained on free provision, as at year 2000.  8.67        Cheng Chung has long been a leader in the publishing industry, and about ten private publishers have also played important roles. To promote the sale of textbooks in the textbook market, it is common practice for publishers to provide free teaching aids or teaching equipment to schools.  UK 8.68        Textbooks are commercially produced and there is no system to review them. Over 1,000 educational packages available on CD-ROM have been evaluated by Becta (British Educational Communications and Technology Agency), which is formed by teams of teachers and school librarians nominated by local education authorities, professional bodies and subject associations.  8.69        Teachers are free to choose their required textbooks. They may even set texts for certain examination syllabuses. Schools provide textbooks on loan to students without parents' contribution. Textbooks will normally be re-used for 2-4 years. The financial burden on government is not considered heavy, comprising only 1% of education expenses. USA 8.70        Textbooks are produced by commercial publishers, with about ten having the major share of the industry. Selection of textbooks is either governments recommending textbooks based on curriculum guidelines, or teachers selecting textbooks from an approved list. 8.71        In most states, schools provide textbooks to students on loan without parents' contribution. Some states do charge students but the most needy will be exempted. Schools will prepare a sufficient amount of money in their annual budget for purchasing textbooks. Textbooks will normally be re-used for 3-6 years. Table 6 Comparison of theTextbook Supply Policies in Hong Kong and Other Jurisdictions Compulsory education Provision of textbooks Gov't Control on Textbook ¡@   ¡@ Recommended / Approved Textbook List Curriculum Revision Publishers Offer Free Teaching Aids Production of Textbooks Textbook Price ¡@ On loan Purchase Free provision Review content Price control ¡@ Publiclypublished   Commercially produced ¡@ Australia Yes (depends on the type of schools) Yes (public schools) Yes (private schools)   No No (source books)   No N/A Constantly No (only supplement-ary copies) Yes (source books for some subjects) Yes (mostly commercially produced) Publishers recommend retail prices but discount rates vary among publishers. Canada Yes Yes Yes No Yes No Yes N/A N/A No Yes N/A France Yes Yes (in compul-sory educat-ion) Yes (upper second- ary levels) No Yes No Yes N/A N/A No Yes Bookshops offer 5% discount for individual purchase. 20-45% discount if purchase via PTA. Germany N/A Yes No No Yes Yes Yes N/A N/A No Yes Price prescribes by state. Hong Kong Yes (9 years) No   ¡@   ¡@ Yes (textbook assist- ance for needy students) No Yes   ¡@ ¡@ No Yes On need basis Yes (only accept complimentary copies & teachers? guides & teaching resources support for the use of textbooks) No (tender for subjects with small markets to develop teaching kits, e.g. TE subjects)   Yes Publishers recommend retail prices & alleged standard discount rates among booksellers. Hungary N/A No Yes (assist- ance for needy) No Yes No Yes N/A N/A No Yes Subsidised price. Italy N/A Yes Yes No No No No N/A N/A No Yes govt issues circular on price. Japan Yes No Yes Yes (primary & lower secondary education) Yes N/A Yes (authorised textbook list) N/A N/A Yes Yes N/A Korea N/A No Yes Yes   Yes (state compile) Yes Yes N/A N/A Yes Yes Cost kept low by govt Mainland China No No Yes (most common) No Yes (uni- form text- books) Yes   N/A N/A No (only free desk copies of pupils' texts and teachers' guides) Yes (public publishing & private printing & retailing) No Set by gov’t. Netherlands N/A Yes Yes No No No Yes (consumer guide & info list ) N/A N/A No Yes N/A New Zealand Yes Yes (non- textbk based curri- culum) Yes (for other recommended books) N/A No No Yes (available on ed authority website) N/A N/A Yes Yes N/A Norway Yes Yes   Yes (upper form students buy own texts) No Yes No N/A N/A N/A Yes Yes N/A Singapore Yes (10 years) No Yes (free textbooks to needy students)   No Yes Yes Yes (approved list) 6-8 years Yes (schools have to buy their own but teachers? guides are provided free) Yes (subjects related to national ed and moral develop- ment) Yes Pay standard price as approved by Gov't. Spain N/A No Yes No Yes N/A Yes N/A N/A No Yes N/A Sweden Yes Yes   Yes (for non-com-pulsory level) No No No N/A N/A N/A No Yes N/A Switzerland Yes Yes (in pri- mary & junior high levels) Yes (in upper level) No Yes No Yes N/A N/A Yes (in primary & junior high levels) Yes N/A Taiwan Yes (9 years) No Yes   Yes Yes Yes N/A 10 years Yes (common practice) Yes (high school texts) Yes (elementary school texts) Private publishers recommend retail price through negotiation with schools and Gov't. UK N/A Yes No No No No No N/A N/A No Yes N/A USA N/A Yes Yes No Yes No Yes (approved list) N/A N/A No Yes N/A Note: "N/A" Data not available.