Back to School
The National Association of Publishers and the Association of Bookshop Owners have organised a press conference to discuss on the scarcity of textbooks in the Anglophone subsystem of education.
During the press conference on 3rd September 2015 at the Ministry of Trade, members of the association updated the press on what is happening in the sector.
The President of the National Publishers Association, Rogers Nforgwei and the President of the Association of Bookshop Owners, Marcelin Abidouguina contradicted the claim from parents that school textbooks of the Anglophone subsystem are scarce.
Both Presidents explained that not all bookshop owners are financially viable to stock their shelves with all the required textbooks.
Rogers Nforgwei indicated that there will always be scarcity of books since supply can never be perfect. He however emphasised that 85 per cent of the books are available.
The actors in the textbook sector also cited the problem of piracy in some parts of the country hindering the availability of textbooks.
Rogers Nforgwei added that textbooks are more available this year compared to the previous school years though business persons in the sector suffer the effects of congestion at the Douala seaport.
In this light, Government through the Ministry of Finance and that of Trade, has lessened the burden by exempting dealers in textbooks from huge import taxes.
At the end of the meeting, the Association of Publishers and Bookshop Owners invited parents to visit as many bookshops as possible as they search for the indispensable educational tool.
