Cool about 'hot' new editions

Concern at the cost and quality of textbooks is mounting as students prepare for the new school year. Price rises have led to more students and their families turning to second-hand bookstores in search of bargains, but student reading lists require the costlier 'brand new' revised editions.

Some book-hunting students told Young Post that the only difference between some of the revised editions and previous versions are a few spelling corrections, variations in the text and a change of title.

A student seeking the book Mathematics Today, which last year went under the title Mathematics for Hong Kong, said the changes seemed slight in the 'new' book, and felt the book's concepts and ideas remained basically the same.

She said she had to make the purchase because teachers expected pupils to have the latest edition.

'Even though the earlier editions don't seem that much different, the teachers will not allow us to use them. They say the books must be wrong if they need revising,' the student said.

'I just see it as a waste of money and paper, especially if you don't come from a rich family.' Some 26 per cent of all textbooks are newly revised editions, according to a report by the Democratic Party, while the price of new textbooks in general has risen by an average of 23 per cent.

This means that a Form One student would now have to pay up to $2,000, and a senior arts or science student up to $3,000 a year for a complete set of new textbooks, according to the report.

The extra financial strain this puts on less well-off families, particularly families with two or more school-age children, caused concern among many students.

However, second-hand bookstore owner Chiu Yuet-ho said she had not noticed a sharp increase in sales.

'I think the problem is not so much the cost of books as the number of children in a family, or the age levels of the children.

'Most of the people who come to our shop are more senior students who are familiar with the system, or new immigrants from China who are careful with their money,' she said.

Christina Lau, 17, said she had been trying to get all her textbooks second-hand.

Cordelia Yu, a Form Two student at Diocesan Girls' School, said: 'This is the first time I've gone with my mother to buy schoolbooks, so I can't really compare prices.

'I bought most of my stuff at Swindon's, and the bill was around $1,500. However, my mum didn't look that worried when she paid the bill.' Another Diocesan student, Joan Chan, who enters Form Five this year, recalled books being quite expensive last year.

'The books, which we use for both Form Four and Five, did cost a bit as we're studying more specialised subjects. But I'm lucky, as my elder sister is also doing science, so I can use some of her books.' Ms Chiu, owner of the Hon Kee Bookstore, believes that many Form One or Two students like to own brand-new books, but once they grow older they are not so choosy about the condition of the volumes.

Indeed, some students see a definite advantage to a second-hand book with a well-thumbed look.

'The older the better, I'd say,' quips Christina. 'The teacher is impressed, thinking you've been hitting your books really hard!' Bonita is a Young Post summer intern