POLICY DESCRIPTION DIRECT DESIRED FOR MARKET POSITIVE EFFECTS NEGATIVE EFFECTS Initial Assessment

TOOLS PARTICIPANTS OUTCOME COMPETITION (Externalities) (Externalities)

Regulatory
Approach NBDB shall issue Guidelines Complainant, NBDB, Immediate Yes * Publishers are given the This may create 1. More punitive but not
a. Penalties on Penalties for erroneous Publisher, experts, solution to the stick and are forewarned. antagonism between developmental in
for Erring textbook publishers selected textbook * Message is sent to the NBDB and some local approach.
Publishers representatives controversy public that the NBDB means textbook publishers. 2. NBDB is not a regulatory
business in curbing poor body but a policy
Discourage quality textbooks This may discourage making body
Publishers small textbook
from producing publishers from (RECOMMENDED TO
poor quality registering with the COMPLEMENT THE
textbooks. NBDB or from entering “DEVELOPMENTAL”
the Private school APPROACH AS A SHORT
Encourage textbook market TERM SOLUTION)
publishers to anymore.
aspire for
(textbook) The NBDB may be
product flooded by complaints
excellence of textbook errors.

Alternative
Regulatory
Approach NBDB shall require all NBDB, Publishers, Discourage Yes *Clear Requirements to Publishers may still sell 1. More procedural but will
b. Process textbooks to undergo experts, Centers of Publishers produce error-free textbooks books to the private not force publishers to
Regulation evaluation by experts e.g. Excellence from producing are set. school system w/ or comply to this
representatives from poor quality w/out NBDB requirement before
Identified Centers of textbooks. registration. selling to the private
Excellence before school system.
Publishers are allowed to Encourage
sell the books to the private publishers to
schools aspire for

Non
Regulatory
Approaches
NBDB shall set up training
c. Education programs on book
and evaluation as well as
Informatio information programs on
n Programs consumer protection for
members of the private
school system.
d. Persuasive 1. NBDB shall ask erroneous
approach textbook publisher to pull
out textbook from the
market.
2. Or NBDB asks CEAP,
MAPSA to establish
(textbook)
product
excellence
NBDB, Private school Immediate Yes *This will complement None. 1. A lighter approach to
associations e.g. solution to the whatever “regulatory” the issue.
MAPSA, CEAP, textbook approach the NBDB chooses. 2. Developmental in
PASSCU, FAPSA and controversy *No cursing of darkness but approach
even school lighting of candle approach. 3. Will involve many
networks Discourage *May unite all textbook entities in the conduct
Publishers publishers to educate the of this program
from producing private schools. 4. Self-sustaining and
poor quality * Opportunity to income-generating
textbooks. partnerships with other
groups e.g. DTI in promoting (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Encourage consumer protection; AS AN IMMEDIATE
publishers to CEAP/MAPSA for training on SOLUTION TO
aspire for textbook evaluation; or NCCA COMPLEMENT THE
(textbook) for training on textbook “STICK” APPROACH TO
product publishing, editing etc. THE PROBLEM)
excellence *Developmental approach
NBDB Immediate Yes 1. Publisher is informed of 1. Tedious, time- 1. Private schools in the
solution to the NBDB’s findings and sends consuming, does not regions may still fall victim
textbook the message that NBDB finds ensure if desired to erroneous textbook
controversy the publisher ‘s textbook as behavior (pull out publishers.
of poor quality. from market by the
Discourage publisher) , is followed.
Publishers 2. Less logistical expense 1. CEAP, MAPSA and other
 textbook standards or most from producing 2. CEAP or MAPSA private schools association
outstanding textbook poor quality Standards may just be can be persuaded by NBDB
awards. textbooks. ignored or be to set up own standards or
influenced by some awards.
Encourage powerful publishers.
publishers to
aspire for
(textbook)
product
excellence
e. Negative NBDB shall come up with a NBDB Discourage Yes Repeat offender is penalized Takes time before a 1. Procedural and punitive.
Licensing list of publishers that are Publishers and dissuaded from entering publisher is blacklisted.
precluded from from producing the private school market.. (RECOMMENDED AS A
participating in the textbook poor quality LONG TERM SOLUTION
market by blacklisting them textbooks. BUT SHOULD BE
after two offences. COMPLEMENTED BY
Encourage OTHER DEVELOPMENTAL
publishers to APPROACH)
aspire for
(textbook)
product
excellence
f. Self- NBDB persuades textbook Stakeholders Discourage Yes encourages textbook Takes time. Dependent Will take time. The
Regulation publishers’ association to Publishers publishers to be more on the leadership and Textbook association has
penalize their own from producing responsible, to police their capability of the not considered this option
members, to set own poor quality own ranks and to invest in textbook publishers yet in its position paper.
standards, to train their textbooks. training, research and association.
members. development NBDB cannot force (RECOMMENDED AS A
Encourage industry assn to LONG TERM SOLUTION)
publishers to penalize or discipline
aspire for members.
(textbook)
 product
excellence

g. Voluntary NBDB encourages Publishers and Immediate Yes. Less NBDB intervention. May result in Will require an informed
Agreement Agreements to be forged private schools solution to the Erroneous textbooks are connivance or covering school administrator for t
s between publishers and textbook corrected at the school level up of errors at the his to prosper
private schools to correct controversy and at publisher’s expense school level.
erroneous textbooks e.g. Rex and Diwa at the (CAN BE RECOMMENDED
Discourage University of Perpetual Help) AS A SHORT TERM
Publishers SOLUTION)
from producing
poor quality
textbooks.

Encourage
publishers to
aspire for
(textbook)
product
excellence
h. Co- NBDB shall facilitate NBDB and Discourage Yes Creates an opportunity to Takes time, will 1. More developmental
regulation amendment of Code of Stakeholders Publishers amend Code of ethical depend on the and sustainable
ethical standards with from producing standards; willingness of 2. Takes time
textbook publishers. poor quality members but will not
textbooks. be binding to or (RECOMMENDED AS A
exclude non-members LONG TERM SOLUTION)
Encourage
publishers to
aspire for
 (textbook)
product
excellence
AVAILABLE POLICY TOOLS TO PERMANENTLY SOLVE THE ISSUE OF ERRONEOUS TEXTBOOKS IN THE PRIVATE SCHOOL SYSTEM
It is suggested that a combination of carrot and stick approach be employed – the punitive (via penalties) and the developmental (training program on book evaluation and
consumer protection) approaches. The other approaches are more for the long term and merely require persuasion from NBDB and directed at the industry players and buyers,
except for voluntary agreements which require no direct NBDB intervention.