KATHMANDU, AUGUST 10
Though the country has a long history of book publication, a clear policy related to it is still missing.
This vacuum has led to realisation among people concerned that the nation is incurring big economic loss due to absence of substantive policies for book publication.
The policy is needed to improve the quality of education, systematise book market and strengthen the state's coffers.
Various nations have implemented National Book Policy in accordance with UNESCO guidelines, but this has not happened yet in Nepal. However, Nepal is not totally unaware of the urgency of introducing a National Book Policy. It is claimed that the draft of the policy was prepared in the past, but the document remained unendorsed due to vested interests of some people.
Lack of identification of vivid areas of national interest and needs, haphazard publication of guess papers, guidebooks, solutions and practice books of school and college levels, and designing syllabus against the state's recommendation is common.
The prices of such publications are generally unusual and they are capable of cheating readers, students and guardians.
Krishna Ram Karki of Nawa Prabhat Book Store said a National Book Policy was needed to contain such practices. "Haphazard publication of books and their supply have caused millions of rupees loss to the state," he said.
Nepal Books Association General Secretary Mahendra Prakash Siwakoti said a high-level nine-member National Book Policy Draft Formulation Taskforce had prepared the National Policy Draft in 2017. The initiative was taken during the term of the then education minister Girirajmani Pokhrel. But the document went missing from the ministry.
A taskforce formed under the convenorship of Hari Govinda Luintel was assigned to develop the draft.
Siwakoti also stressed the need to enhance the competency of stateowned Janak Education Materials Centre.
Moreover, the policy is sorely needed to implement the publication procedures effectively.
A version of this article appears in the print on August 11, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.