As we have mentioned previously in Peques and Más, textbooks will not be affected by the VAT increase, as will other goods and services linked to education. However they will accuse the increase of their basic costs, in quite a few cases above the CPI although these will not have a full impact on the final prices of the books.
According to data from the National Association of Publishers of Educational Books, the percentages in which the higher cost that families will assume will vary according to the different educational levels. In Infant Education 2.5%, and Primary Education, 2.3%. In the case of compulsory secondary education (ESO) books, the increase will be 2.6%. Finally, the price of books destined for other Secondary Education will rise 2.3%. Except in this last level, all have had increments lower than those registered in the past year. It is important to know that textbooks in Spain are subject to two different price regimes: fixed or single price, determined by the publisher for books for Early Childhood Education and Non-Compulsory Secondary Education (Baccalaureate and Vocational Training). And on the other hand the free price and, therefore, variable, which establishes the retailer for books destined for compulsory education (Primary Education and ESO).
This information has surprised me, I do not quite understand that books that are intended for compulsory education may have a variable price, which will vary according to the point of sale. I mean, it is understandable from a commercial point of view, but not from the economy of families. In any case ours is the decision to acquire them where we decide, although sometimes this involves more than one disorder. Perhaps in courses in which teaching is mandatory, an adjusted price should be guaranteed
The ANELE Report is the most rigorous of those carried out in Spain on the evolution of the price of textbooks. It is noted that other variables will enter the course that will be started, such as the reduction or even disappearance of public aid for the acquisition of textbooks, which will have an important impact on the increase in family spending.
The publishers and booksellers will keep their prices within the announced levels, but the Public Administrations, with exceptions, will reduce their contribution to this chapter by more than 75%. Financing about 25% of the expenditure of families in educational books will go to just over 5%.
And what about the incorporation of new technologies?
The digital edition for education has had a remarkable development. In two years, the number of educational books in digital format has multiplied by twenty-five, and they already represent approximately 20% of the student manuals available on paper.
This development is not just numerical, digital textbooks made in Spain are getting richer, more versatile and easier to handle. It has gone from digitized books to books created and thought in the digital world
Taking advantage of the processing of the Organic Law for the Improvement of Educational Quality, a rigorous and economically sustainable project is claimed That counts, not only with those who produce and sell the machines, but, above all, with those who can and should give adequate content for their scientific rigor and for their pedagogical quality.
Textbooks in a panorama of economic recession
Although in the past year there was a rise in turnover, the perspectives for the next course are not very promising for the whole of the Spanish educational edition. Budget cuts affecting teachers and students have also reached school books. The free programs have either been suspended or the periods of validity of the books have been extended, the grants and scholarships for the acquisition of books have been drastically reduced to levels of more than twenty years ago.
In a context of economic recession in which all educational costs are increased, the purchase of books and school manuals will be seriously affected
The average expenditure per student for Early Childhood Education is expected to be € 70.81, and for Primary Education € 130.07 (Although the OCU report pointed to a higher figure in Primary students: 215 euros on average per student).
Finally highlight that The editors insist that in view of the implementation of the new Law, the quality and development of an offer in textbooks be monitored, maintaining its plurality and richness and respond to a coherent conception of the Spanish education system in connection with the other European systems.
Images | Jose C Silva, Extra Ketchup on Flickr Source | ANELE In Peques and More | The Ministry is requested to promote the development of a unique platform for access to digital content in the classroom, Extremadura institutes begin to work with digital books
