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Erwida Maulia , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Tue, 06/24/2008 10:01 AM | National
JAKARTA: The Education Ministry on Monday distributed software based school textbooks to heads of education agencies nationwide.
At an event aiming to promote the newly launched cheap and free-to-download school textbook program, the ministry distributed soft copies of 49 e-books -- whose copyrights have been bought by the ministry -- to some 500 representatives from education offices across the country and non-government organizations.
During the event, ministry officials explained to participants how to access and use the e-books online.
Through its new policy on electronic based learning, the government is set to provide downloadable and affordable textbooks for students at elementary and secondary levels.
By making the books free to download, the government expects to be able to improve access to textbooks for many people who traditionally have had difficulty affording them.
Critics have said, however, the e-book policy is unlikely to help students in rural areas where with Internet connections are largely unavailable and where lower price books are most needed.
Education Minister Bambang Sudibyo said those downloading and printing e-books could also copy and sell them, but should use retail prices set by the government.
"The highest retail price for the printed books ranges from Rp 4,000 (43 US cents) to Rp 20,000, depending on the thickness and colors of the books," he said on the sidelines of the event.
He added that those selling the books with higher prices could face criminal charges for "deception".
The 49 books had passed an assessment by the National Education Standards Agency (BSNP), Bambang said. He also said the body was currently assessing more books to meet the ministry's target of buying copyrights of 287 school textbooks by August.
The free e-books can be downloaded at http://bse.depdiknas.go.id.
According to the head of the ministry's technology and communication center, Lilik Gani, the ministry website has recorded 12,000 hits since it launched the e-books a few months ago.
The ministry had compressed the book files to make them easier to download, Lilik said.
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