THE ROLE OF THE PUBLISHING INDUSTRY IN ACHEIVING QUALITY EDUCATION IN GHANA
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background of the study
One of the major stumbling blocks in the delivery of quality education in the country is that of shortage of textbooks. Since textbooks and instructional materials have direct impact on what is taught in schools and how it is taught, the government of ghana in 1961 introduced the free textbook scheme, in an attempt to supply every school pupil with basic textbooks.
However, the picture in Ghana before 1965 showed an entire absence of foreign or local publishing houses to meet the demand for the free textbook scheme. As a result, the government depended on the importation of textbooks and instructional materials. In 1965 the Ghana Publishing Corporation (GPC) was established.
The establishment of the GPC was followed by a number of private publishing firms, and Ghana’s publishing industry was further enhanced in 1984 with the establishment of the Publishing Degree Programme at KNUST, to enable the publishing industry to design and produce all the textbooks and other printed instructional materials for Ghanaian schools.
However, after thirty years of the existence of Ghana’s publishing industry, about 60% of textbooks and instructional materials in Ghanaian schools come from foreign publishers. It is therefore necessary to find out why Ghana’s Publishing Industry is not playing a central role in the production of textbooks and instructional materials for
Ghanaian schools. Hence the need for an investigation into the role of Ghana’s publishing industry in ensuring quality education programme.
Statement of the Problem
To achieve quality education, it is important to ensure adequate supply of relevant textbooks and other instructional materials from local sources. However there is lack of government’s support in formulating polices to protect the local publishing industry from foreign publishers. Influxes of foreign books in the local market also contribute to the decline in local book production.
Hypothesis
The local publishing industry has a significant role to play in the quality education programme of Ghana.
Objectives
1. To identify and describe the role of the publishing industries in Ghana with regard to the local production of textbooks.
2. To examine the role of the local publishing industry in the context of the quality education programme.
Justification of Objectives
The identification and description will pave way for the rest of the research to be done. The examination of the activities of the publishing industry will help reveal their role in quality education.
Importance of the Study
This thesis is a body of knowledge, which will serve as a reference material and will also help provide the opportunity for the publishing industry to respond to the government policy aimed at private sector participating in the growth and development of the country by producing all the textbooks and instructional materials for Ghanaian schools.
Delimitation of the study
This research was limited to the study of publishing houses in Accra and Kumasi as well as Schools in and around Kumasi.
Limitation of the Study
Some of the SHS bookshop keepers declined to co-operate for fear of intimidation therefore making that information limited in the thesis. Some publishing houses did not allow the researcher to enter their pressroom due to security reasons.
Definition of Terms
Copyright: Copyright is a form of intellectual property that gives the author of an original work exclusive right for a certain time period in relation to that work, including its publication, distribution and adaptation, after which time the work is said to enter the public domain
Letterhead: a sheet of stationery with name and address of the organization printed at the top.
Offset: A special photo-mechanical technique in which the image to be printed is transferred to the negative plates and printed onto paper.
Abbreviations
KNUST: Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology GPC: Ghana Publishing Cooperation
EFA: Education For All
UNESCO: United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation USAID: United States Aid
QUIPS: Quality Improvement In Primary Schools
HIV: (A retrovirus that causes Aids) Human immune virus AIDS: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
UNICEF: United Nations International Children’s Educational Fund GPRS: Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy
CRDD: Curriculum Research and Development Division PCTBR: Pupil Core Text Book Ratio
CODE: Canadian Organisation For Development through Education SS: South Suntreso
SDA: Seventh Day Adventis
MOES: Ministry of Education and Sports NCT: National Competitive Tendering PPB: Public Procurement Board GETfund: Ghana Education Trust Fund
Organisation of the Remaining of the Text
Chapter two of the study deals with review of related literature on the research topic. Sub headings discussed include:
⦁ Opinions on the meaning of quality education
⦁ Essential characteristics of Quality education
⦁ Elements that affect quality education
⦁ Impact of quality education on national development
⦁ Local publishing industries and quality education
⦁ Textbooks and quality education in developing countries
In chapter three, methodology used during the study is explained. The research findings have been discussed in chapter four. These include:
⦁ Aims and Objectives
⦁ Facilities
⦁ Personnel
⦁ Areas of Production
⦁ Textbook availability in Schools
⦁ Impact of the publishing industry
⦁ Future Projection
The last chapter of the thesis summarises the study and makes major conclusions arrived at during the study; it also gives recommendations to ensure the active involvement of the publishing industry in the quality education programme. After the last chapter of the study are appendices 1 – 4 made up of questionnaire for directors of publishing firms, head of textbook unit (GES) heads of department/head teachers and students in pre-university institutions in Kumasi. Finally, the list of references cited in the thesis as well as bibliography of all books and articles consulted in the course of the research. They have been arranged according to the alphabetical order of the surname of the authors.
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