XN000022-1975-01-09 — Page 2

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 1975

CODE OF PRACTICE FOR SALE OF TEXTBOOKS

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THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR. KENNETH TOPLEY, TODAY ISSUED A CODE OF PRACTICE TO ALL SCHOOL PRINCIPALS CONCERNING THE SALE OF TEXTBOOKS, EXERCISE BOOKS, UNIFORMS, STATIONERY, EQUIPMENT AND OTHER ITEMS, IN AN ALL-OUT EFFORT TO STOP PROFITEERING AND MALPRACTICES.

+1 STRONGLY DISAPPROVE OF THESE IRREGULARITIES AND SHARE THE CONSUMER COUNCIL'S VIEWS IN THIS MATTER,+ MR. TOPLEY SAID IN A CIRCULAR TO HEADS OF SCHOOLS.

THE CODE OF PRACTICE IS TO ASSIST THE SCHOOL AUTHORITIES IN FOLLOWING AGREED STANDARD PROCEDURES WHICH ARE LIKELY TO LEAD TO A GREATER CONTROL OF THE COSTS BORNE BY PARENTS AS WELL AS ENSURING THAT ANY RESULTING PROFITS ARE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUPILS.

MR. TOPLEY ASKED SCHOOL AUTHORITIES TO ENSURE THAT THE PROVISIONS OF THE CODE WERE IMPLEMENTED.

+ IT IS IMPORTANT THAT IN ALL MATTERS CONCERNING THE SALE OF TEXTBOOKS, EXERCISE BOOKS, EQUIPMENT AND UNIFORMS AND SCHOOL ACCESSORIES, THESE PROCEDURES MUST BE OBSERVED IN FULL TO AVOID ANY CAUSE OF COMPLAINT, THE DIRECTOR STRESSED.

THE CODE RELATES TO THE PURCHASE BY STUDENTS OF THESE ITEMS TO PURSUE THEIR COURSE OF STUDY IN KINDERGARTEN, PRIMARY, SECONDARY AND OTHER SCHOOLS.

IT STATES THAT ALL SCHOOLS MUST KEEP PROPER BOOKS OF ACCOUNTS REFLECTING ALL SALES AND PURCHASES OF SUCH ITEMS,

WHERE AN ARRANGEMENT IS MADE WITH A BOOKSELLER OR OTHER SUPPLIER AND A DISCOUNT OR A BLOCK SUM OF MONEY IS RECEIVED THIS MUST ALSO BE ENTERED INTO THE SCHOOL ACCOUNTS AS AN ITEM OF INCOME.

SCHOOLS INVOLVED IN THE SALE OF ITEMS TO STUDENTS SHOULD OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING POINTS :-

* NO SALE SHOULD BE COMPULSORY AND PARENTS SHOULD BE INFORMED

ACCORDINGLY-

*

AN ADEQUATE DESCRIPTION OF THE ITEMS SHOULD BE GIVEN SO THAT PARENTS/STUDENTS CAN EXERCISE THEIR CHOICE OF PURCHASING THESE ITEMS ELSEWHERE. IF ITEMS ARE MADE UP IN PACKAGES, EACH ITEM MUST BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR SALE SEPARATELY AND INDIVIDUAL PRICES CLEARLY SHOWN

/ITEMS BEARING ................