Textbook revisions by publishers an all too familiar story

Textbooks in Hong Kong are notoriously overpriced. A free market and slack supervision mean publishers can put out new editions more often than they should, leaving parents with no choice but to dig deeper into the pocket every year.

The problem has been put under the spotlight again by the Consumer Council. Having examined 13 textbook updates for liberal studies, Chinese history, chemistry and business studies, it concluded that only one was "definitely necessary". Others were deemed somewhat necessary or could be revised with amendments. Some revisions were even graded by experts as worse than before; but they came with a price tag 2 to 7 per cent higher.

The watchdog had already warned last year that the inclusion of fast-changing current affairs in liberal textbooks studies had become a convenient excuse for revisions. It noticed that most changes were cosmetic, involving reshuffled paragraphs, the use of new images or different translations for some foreign terms. A year has passed but publishers are still printing new versions for profits.

What is more regrettable is that the government appears to be indifferent. When bombarded with the scathing attacks for the second year in a row, the Education Bureau merely responded with its well-worn line. It said liberal studies teachers were encouraged to find their own teaching resources; the bureau did not recommend the use of textbooks as a main resource for the subject.

The publishers would not have released new editions if they were not used by teachers. According to the watchdog, nine liberal studies textbooks published in 2012 were being revised, despite guidelines against new edition within five years. The situation warrants closer government attention.

Admittedly, books published decades ago may not be suitable for use today. But unlike perishable food products that expire within a certain period, teaching materials should have a longer shelf life.