Windhoek — Cabinet last week approved the Ministry of Education's Textbook Policy after lengthy consultations.

"Between May and July 2007, the Ministry of Education engaged a consultancy funded by the European Commission to assist in the development of a national textbook policy for primary and secondary schools in Namibia.

"This policy is one of the ETSIP activities. It is also one of the priority activities required by development partners for the disbursement of funds to the Ministry of Education in support of ETSIP," a statement from Cabinet said.

The Textbook Policy provides guidelines on matters such as:

- Production of inexpensive, but good quality textbooks for schools;

- Publishing of textbooks and the regulations thereof;

- Procurement of textbooks;

- Budgetary provisions for textbooks;

- Supply chain for the provision of textbooks to schools; and

- Delivery, care and use of textbooks and other learning support materials.

"These issues have been formulated into a clear and concise directive that should guide the Ministry of Education in textbook management. The policy has been produced after consultations with various stakeholders in Namibia, and has been fully endorsed by stakeholders in education," the statement concluded.