Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized DIRECTIONS IN DEVELOPMENT Human Development Where Have All the Textbooks Public Disclosure Authorized Gone? Toward Sustainable Provision of Teaching and Learning Materials in Sub-Saharan Africa Tony Read Public Disclosure Authorized Where Have All the Textbooks Gone? DIRECTIONS IN DEVELOPMENT Human Development Where Have All the Textbooks Gone? Toward Sustainable Provision of Teaching and Learning Materials in Sub-Saharan Africa Tony Read © 2015 International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433 Telephone: 202-473-1000; Internet: www.worldbank.org Some rights reserved 1 2 3 4 18 17 16 15 This work is a product of the staff of The World Bank with external contributions. The findings, interpreta- tions, and conclusions expressed in this work do not necessarily reflect the views of The World Bank, its Board of Executive Directors, or the governments they represent. 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Where Have All the Textbooks Gone? • http://dx.doi.org/10.1596/978-1-4648-0572-1 Contents Foreword xiii Acknowledgments xv Abbreviations xvii Overview 1 Conclusions Related to Unit Textbook Costs 6 Conclusions Related to TLM System Costs 9 Conclusions Related to Textbook and TLM Availability in Schools 10 Conclusions Related to Textbook Cost Reduction Possibilities 11 Conclusions Related to the Main Causes of High System Cost and Low Availability 13 Conclusions Related to School TLM Management and Usage 14 Conclusions Related to TLM Reform Policy Options 15 Notes 15 References 16 PART 1 The Current Situation 17 Chapter 1 Textbooks, Teaching and Learning Materials, and Learning Achievement 19 The Impact of Textbooks on the Quality of Education 19 Issues in Donor-Funded Textbook Projects 21 The Cost Effectiveness of Textbook Provision 22 Impact Evaluations of Textbook Provision in Kenya 23 Textbook Effectiveness and Classroom Usage 24 Factors Affecting School Effectiveness and Student Achievement 26 Textbook Content Research 27 Recent Research 28 Reading Books 30 Where Have All the Textbooks Gone? • http://dx.doi.org/10.1596/978-1-4648-0572-1 v vi Contents A Summary of Key Issues 33 Note 33 References 34 Chapter 2 Current Trends in National Teaching and Learning Materials Policies in Sub-Saharan Africa 37 Trends in National Teaching and Learning Materials Provision 37 The Transition to Private Sector Involvement in Textbook Provision 38 The Growth in African Publishing 40 Competing Alternative Textbooks and the Introduction of Textbook Evaluation Systems 41 Centralized versus Decentralized Funding and Selection 43 Enrollment Growth 45 Comparisons between Anglophone and Francophone Approaches 46 The Growth in Learner-Centered and Outcomes-Based Curricula 46 A Summary of Key Issues 50 Notes 51 References 52 Chapter 3 Current Textbook (and Other Teaching and Learning Materials) Availability, Costs, and Financing in Sub-Saharan Africa 53 Textbook Unit Costs at Primary and Secondary Levels in 11 Sub-Saharan African Countries 53 Sources of Textbooks for Primary and Secondary Levels 60 Sources of Textbook Financing for Primary and Secondary Levels 60 Types of Supply 62 Textbook Availability 64 A Summary of Key Issues 67 Notes 68 References 69 PART 2 A Review of the Components of the Textbook Chain 71 Chapter 4 Literacy, Curricula, Teaching and Learning Materials, Requirements, and System Costs 73 The Crisis of Literacy and Numeracy in Sub-Saharan Africa 73 Where Have All the Textbooks Gone? • http://dx.doi.org/10.1596/978-1-4648-0572-1 Contents vii Constraints on Improved Literacy and Numeracy Performance in SSA 77 Curriculum Design and System Costs and Effectiveness 79 The Minimum Profile of Required TLMs and Associated Cost Implications 86 LoI Policies and Cost Implications 89 Regional Curricula 91 A Summary of Key Issues 93 Notes 95 References 96 Chapter 5 Teaching and Learning Materials Financing 99 Issues in Teaching and Learning Materials Financing 99 Affordability, Sustainability, and Predictability 100 Underfinancing 101 Fund Diversion 109 Fund Misappropriation and Piracy 111 Textbook Pricing Markups 113 Supervision and Accountability 114 A Summary of Key Issues 115 Notes 117 References 118 Chapter 6 Authorship and Publishing 121 The Textbook Publishing Process 121 Key Characteristics of Commercial Publishing 122 What Can State Publishing Learn from Commercial Publishing Management? 125 A Brief Review of State Publishing in Sub-Saharan Africa 126 The Reemergence of Private Sector Textbook Publishing 128 Local Authorship Capacity 129 Cost Implications of Local Textbook Publishing 129 A Summary of Key Issues 130 Notes 131 References 131 Chapter 7 Manufacturing Issues 133 Local and Regional Textbook Printing Capacity in Sub-Saharan Africa 133 Textbook Specifications 136 Publishers’ Production Knowledge 138 Testing 139 A Summary of Key Issues 139 Notes 139 References 140 Where Have All the Textbooks Gone? • http://dx.doi.org/10.1596/978-1-4648-0572-1 viii Contents Chapter 8 What Should Textbooks Cost? 141 Cost Components 141 One-Year versus Four-Year Book Life—Cost Comparisons 143 Reasons for Textbook Cost Variations in Some Approved Book Lists 144 Textbook Costs 147 Costs and Print Runs 148 A Summary of Key Issues 149 Notes 150 Reference 150 Chapter 9 Procurement, Bidding, and Evaluation 151 Sole Sourcing versus Decentralized Competitive Textbook Selection 151 Evaluating and Establishing an Approved List of Textbooks and TLMs 153 Bid Supervision 155 A Summary of Key Issues 156 Note 156 Reference 156 Chapter 10 Distribution, Storage, and Management 157 Basic Teaching and Learning Materials Requirements for Effective Distribution 157 The Coca Cola Argument 158 Distribution Performance in SSA—Some Case Studies 159 Planning and Management Problems 168 A Summary of Emerging Key Issues 169 Notes 171 References 172 Chapter 11 Managing and Using Teaching and Learning Materials in Schools 175 School and Classroom Storage 175 TLM Management Issues 176 Patterns of TLM Usage in the Classroom 177 Conservation and Reuse 182 A Summary of Emerging Key Issues 183 Notes 185 References 185 PART 3 e-Alternatives to Hard Copy Textbooks 187 Chapter 12 The Potential Impact of Information and Communication Technology Solutions on Textbook Provision 189 Where Have All the Textbooks Gone? • http://dx.doi.org/10.1596/978-1-4648-0572-1 Contents ix Information and Communications Technology for Education as Competition to Hard Copy Teaching and Learning Materials 189 e-Alternatives to Textbook Provision 190 A Summary of Emerging Key Issues 199 Notes