The delay in the supply of textbooks is finally over as the Ministry of Education has disclosed that five local printers in Ghana have commenced the printing.
The printing of the textbooks for basic schools under the new curriculum is being done by G-PAK Ltd, a subsidiary of the Graphic Communications Group Limited; the Buck Press, Appointed Time Printing Ltd, Jay Kay Industries Ltd and Sec-print Ltd.
Deputy Minister of Education, John Ntim Fordjour speaking in an interview on Peace FM said the companies have three months to complete the work and a month to deliver the books to the schools.
Background
In June last year, the government announced ceding 100 per cent of the printing of textbooks for pupils in basic schools to local printers.
For a start, the textbooks to be printed will cover kindergarten to primary six.
However, any publisher without an agreement with a local printer will not be considered.
Consequently, all publishers who were already pre-qualified were asked to present signed agreements with local printers.
The Minister of Education, who had announced the government’s decision, said: “Any publisher without an agreement with a local printer will not be considered in the offer.”
Previously, the printing of textbooks was mostly done outside the country, with local printers complaining that it was a disincentive to local businesses.
In some cases, a minimal percentage was given to local printers, while the bulk of the printing was done outside the country.
In 2016, however, the then government decided that the printing of textbooks for schools would be done by local printers, and by 2017 when the printing actually began, more than 40,000 people were employed in the sector.
Aside from employment opportunities, the contract also afforded local printers the opportunity to build their capacity and expand their operations.