XN000022-1993-08-04 — Page 4

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 1993

PARENTS NOT COMPULSORY TO BUY TEXTBOOKS FROM SCHOOLS

*

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SAID STUDENTS AND PARENTS

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TODAY (WEDNESDAY} WERE NOT COMPULSORY TO BUY TEXTBOOKS, EXERCISE BOOKS, UNIFORMS AND OTHER ITEMS FROM SCHOOLS.

PRACTICE ON

THE SPOKESMAN SAID ALL SCHOOLS FOLLOWED A CODE OF THE SALE OF TEXTBOOKS, EXERCISE BOOKS, UNIFORMS AND OTHER SCHOOL ACCESSORIES.

ACCORDING ΤΟ THE GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF THE CODE FIRST INTRODUCED IN 1975, SCHOOLS SHOULD ENSURE THAT,

SUBJECT то SOUND EDUCATIONAL PRACTICE, THE COST OF ITEMS SHOULD BE KEPT AS LOW AS POSSIBLE.

"SCHOOLS NORMALLY ISSUE LISTS OF BOOKS, INCLUDING TEXTBOOKS, REFERENCE BOOKS AND WORKBOOKS, TO EXISTING STUDENTS BEFORE THE END OF A TERM AND TO NEW STUDENTS OR THEIR PARENTS,

" HE SAID, ADDING THAT FULL DETAILS SUCH AS TITLE, EDITION, AUTHOR, PUBLISHER, AND PRICE WERE GIVEN.

THE LISTS ARE ACCOMPANIED BY A STATEMENT TO ADVISE PARENTS THAT THEY CAN BUY THE ITEMS OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL IF THEY WISH.

STUDENTS, HE SAID, WERE ALSO NOT

COMPELLED TO BUY UNIFORMS

FROM THE SCHOOL TAILOR.

STUDENTS CAN PLACE THEIR ORDERS ELSEWHERE, THE MATERIALS SELECTED FOR THE UNIFORM ARE USUALLY OF A TYPE, QUALITY AND COLOUR GENERALLY AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT ALL SCHOOLS KEPT PROPER ACCOUNTS WHICH REFLECTED ALL SALES.

"IF AN ARRANGEMENT HAS BEEN 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,"

HE SAID.

THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT SCHOOLS WERE REQUIRED TO RECORD IN INVENTORY ANY ADVANTAGES RECEIVED FROM SUPPLIERS IN THE FORM OF OR ITEMS OF EQUIPMENT.

AN

GOODS

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