House bill seeks to ensure error-free public, private school textbooks

A measure filed at the House of Representatives seeks to ensure that textbooks for students in public and private elementary and secondary schools were free from inaccuracies, factual errors, and other lapses.

Bohol Representative Kristine Alexie Tutor on Tuesday filed House Bill 5308 in response to the Commission on Audit's finding that around P254 million worth of textbooks for Grade 3 students were filled with errors.

The bill amends RA 8047 or the Book Publishing Industry Development Act to mandate the Department of Education (DepEd) to review textbooks and manuscripts, verify the factual and contextual accuracy of their content, and make the necessary correction of errors in facts and contexts before they are published.

The DepEd would also be tasked with improving word usage, construction, and presentation of the textbooks and manuscripts in coordination with the authors and publishers.

Tutor said that in its current form, RA 8047 did not provide or give the DepEd the authority to correct errors in books.

"RA 8047 does not have provisions with regard to textbook errors, how to deal with those errors, as well as identifying or penalizing those responsible or accountable," she said.

House Bill 5308 also empowers the existing National Book Development Board to issue specific rules and regulations on educational book publishing.

These rules include the imposition of administrative penalties, standards, and procedures on reviewing textbooks and manuscripts, mechanisms for the correction of content regarding factual errors, inaccuracies, and flaws, but excluding editorial style.

Moreover, the bill mandates the National Book Development Board to establish a public library with reliable and publicly-accessible WiFi connection of at least 100 megabits per second in every city and municipality nationwide as part of a National Public Library Development Program to be implemented in phases over a period of seven fiscal years.

It also tasks the board to conduct annual book fairs in the 100 most populous cities and municipalities of the country to promote reading and improve learning competencies. — DVM, GMA News