Obec rules out more new textbooks

"It's impossible to follow the idea because we don't have enough time to audit the contents of new textbooks if they are to be used in May," Obec secretary-general Khunying Kasama Varawarn said yesterday.

She was speaking after she met with representatives of 18 private textbook publishers.

Recently, critics questioned why Obec would not purchase new textbooks for students to use in the 2009 Academic Year starting in May.

Obec is scheduled to fully introduce a new curriculum for the 2010 Academic Year, which will require new textbooks.

Kasama yesterday explained the new curriculum would be introduced for just Grade 1, Grade 4, Grade 7 and Grade 10 students next year.

"So, we will have to buy new textbooks for students in these four levels only," she said.

She added that the textbooks, which were not very up-to-date now, could be updated through extra inserts.

"Additionally, Obec and relevant publishers will prepare updated information for teachers on our web sites. Through this, teachers can update students with the latest content too," she said.

Kasama said her office had talked to all publishers about the need to prepare new textbooks two years ago.

"It takes time to prepare and audit new textbooks," she said.

The publishers are scheduled to present drafts of their new textbooks to Obec next month for Thai-language, English-language, Social Studies, Science and Math subjects.

"We will audit and return the drafts to them in December," Kasama said.

She said drafts of textbooks for occupational foundation and technology, physical education and health education subjects would be submitted to Obec in August.