VIOLATION OF LAW?

DepEd grilled for continuously printing books, self-learning modules

Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta on Monday grilled the Department of Education (DepEd) on its continuous production of books and self-learning modules, claiming the agency has been violating the law for doing this.

During a congressional hearing, Marcoleta pointed out that this action of the DepEd is a "clear circumvention" of Republic Act 8047 or the Book Publishing Industry Development Act.

"In the audit report, COA (Commission on Audit) found that the DepEd, in producing the learning materials, clearly circumvented Section 10 and 11 of Republic Act 8047," Marcoleta said.

He said these sections of the law "advises DepEd to phase out its responsibility of producing books and learning materials and to let public sector publishers do the job."

Marcoleta said the law has specifically ordered the DepEd to focus on curriculum development and avoid producing and manufacturing books. The lawmaker said since the law was enacted, the DepEd still produces books.

"'There is a continuing violation..." Marcoleta said.

"'Yung NBDB (National Book Development Board), siya po ang dapat gumagawa ng mga libro at mga learning materials pero hanggang ngayon ay sila pa rin po ang nagpipilit na gumawa," he added.

(The NBDB should be the ones producing books and learning materials, but until now, it is still the DepEd that insists on producing [these].)

According to Marcoleta, DepEd has shifted to modules "thinking that the modules are no longer books."

"The COA also found out that modules and books are similarly situated," he said.

"Kahit na sabihin nila that the modules are 30 pages or below... kasi ang definition ng textbook under the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), kailangan 42 pages 'yan, but just the same, gumawa rin sila ng learning materials and they called it self-learning materials," Marcoleta said.

(Even if they say that the modules are 30 pages and below... Under UNESCO, the definition of textbook means it has to have 42 pages, but just the same, they still create learning materials and they call it self-learning materials.)

The House Committee on Public Accounts started its investigation on the audit findings of COA on the DepEd regarding various errors in its learning materials and modules, for purposes of instituting reforms, reviewing policies, and assessing DepEd’s efficiency.

As of posting time, the hearing was ongoing. — RSJ/KBK, GMA News