Private School Owners Explain Rising Textbook Prices, Seek Government Support
Private school proprietors under the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) have explained why the cost of textbooks has continued to rise, blaming the trend on inflation, piracy, and distribution challenges.
NAPPS President, Dr. Yomi Otubela, said parents’ concerns are understandable, but the situation is largely beyond schools’ control. According to him, the cost of printing materials, transportation, and logistics has gone up sharply, which makes books more expensive.
He added that while public schools often get books subsidized by government through bulk purchase and free distribution, private schools do not enjoy such benefits.
Piracy and Price
Otubela also highlighted the impact of piracy, noting that fake, poor-quality copies are sold cheaply in open markets. This denies publishers and authors their rightful earnings and often leaves publishers heavily indebted. To cope, many publishers now sell directly to schools, but some middlemen still inflate prices beyond what publishers charge.
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Why Private Schools Prescribe More Books
The NAPPS president explained that private schools usually prescribe more textbooks than public schools. He said this is aimed at giving learners quality education and wider exposure, even though it increases costs for parents.
He acknowledged the efforts of some states promoting reusable textbooks but noted that this method has limits, especially for nursery and primary pupils who write directly inside their books. Subjects such as Technical Drawing, Verbal Reasoning, and Quantitative Reasoning also require direct entries, making reuse difficult.
Digital Textbooks and Hidden Costs
Otubela commended publishers who have introduced digital textbooks, calling it a promising step. However, he warned that the hidden costs of buying tablets or laptops, installing safety apps, and monitoring children can add to parents’ financial burdens.
Government Intervention Needed
He therefore urged the government to revive bulk-purchase policies, where books are bought directly from publishers and distributed to pupils at subsidized rates or free of charge, in both public and private schools. He also called for renewed investment in local paper mills to make textbooks more affordable.
> “Education is a fundamental right. If government cannot fully fund schools or pay tuition for every child, it should at least support families with essential instructional materials like textbooks,” he said.
👉 What’s your view? Should government subsidize textbooks for both public and private schools?
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