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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1978

SCHOOLS GIVEN RECOMMENDED TEXTBOOKS LIST

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A CONSOLIDATED LIST OF RECOMMENDED TEXTBOOKS FOR SECONDARY AND PRIMARY SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN SENT TO HEADS OF ALL SCHOOLS FOR INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE.

THE LIST, DRAWN UP BY THE TEXTBOOKS COMMITTEE OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, COVERS SUCH SUBJECTS AS CHINESE, ENGLISH, MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE, SOCIAL STUDIES, HISTORY AND OTHERS.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAID THE NUMBER OF TEXTBOOKS USED FOR ANY ONE SUBJECT SHOULD BE KEPT TO A REASONABLE MINIMUM, AND FREQUENT CHANGES OF TEXTBOOKS SHOULD BE AVOIDED.+

TO ENSURE THE FREEDOM OF CHOICE TO PARENTS IN THE PURCHASE OF NEW OR SECOND-HAND COPIES, BOOK LISTS DISTRIBUTED TO PUPILS SHOULD GIVE FULL DETAILS OF ALL TEXTBOOKS REQUIRED FOR THE NEW TERM.

+THESE DETAILS SHOULD INCLUDE THE EXACT TITLE OF EACH TEXTBOOK, THE EDITION, THE NAMES OF THE AUTHOR AND PUBLISHER AND ANY OTHER DETAILS NECESSARY TO AVOID AMBIGUITY, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

HE ADDED THAT THE PRICES OF THE TEXTBOOKS SHOULD ALSO BE GIVEN AS A GUIDE TO PARENTS, AND SCHOOLS SHOULD MAKE THE RECOMMENDED LIST AVAILABLE TO ANY PARENT WHO WISHED TO SEE IT.

IT IS THE PRACTICE OF SOME BOOKSELLERS TO PRINT COMPLETE LISTS OF BOOKS SELECTED FOR USE IN THE FOLLOWING ACADEMIC YEAR AND DISTRIBUTE THEM FREE OF CHARGE TO PUPILS.

+THERE IS NO OBJECTION TO THIS ARRANGEMENT PROVIDED PARENTS ARE CLEARLY INFORMED THAT THE ISSUE OF SUCH A LIST IMPLIES NO COMPULSION WHATSOEVER TO PURHCASE FROM A PARTICULAR BOOKSELLER,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

ON SCHOOLS MAKING BULK PURCHASES OF TEXTBOOKS FOR SALE TO THE IR PUPILS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THERE WAS NO OBJECTION TO SUCH ARRANGEMENTS PROVIDED THAT PARTICIPATION BY PUPILS WAS ENTIRELY VOLUNTARY AND PARENTS WERE MADE FULLY AWARE OF THIS.

THIS APPLIES ALSO TO CASES WHERE SCHOOLS OFFER FOR SALE COMPLETE PARCELS OF BOOKS, WITH OR WITHOUT SCHOOL MATERIALS.

+PARENTS MUST NOT BE COMPELLED TO PURCHASE SUCH PARCELS.

+THE CONTENTS MUST BE CLEARLY ITEMISED, THE PRICE OF EACH ITEM SHOWN SEPARATELY, AND PARENTS BE MADE FULLY AWARE THAT, IF THEY WISH, THEY CAN BUY THE NECESSARY ITEMS INDEPENDENTLY, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

SIMILARLY, THAT IS NO OBJECTION TO TEXTBOOKS BEING OFFERED FOR SALE ON SCHOOL PREMISES BY REPRESENTATIVES OF BOOKSELLERS OR PUBLISHERS, PROVIDED PARENTS ARE FULLY INFORMED OF THE PROCEDURE AND THE BENEFIT OF ANY SPECIAL DISCOUNT GIVEN IS PASSED ON TO THE PUPILS IN THE FORM OF REDUCED PRICES.

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