School textbooks overpriced and poor quality, watchdog warns

Consumer watchdog ACM has criticized educational publishers for selling pricey and subpar textbooks, urging the industry to change its practices. Over the past seven years, prices for educational materials have been increasing faster than those of other products, according to the watchdog. Schools express dissatisfaction with the publications, stating that they do not meet their needs.

ACM urges educational publishers to stop the mandatory bundling of licences and textbooks, as well as to align product supply with demand better. One significant issue highlighted by the organization is the practice of bundling textbooks with licences for e-materials, which drives up costs. ACM advocates for these two items to be sold separately.

The watchdog also calls on schools to conduct more research into the textbooks they purchase. Martijn Snoep, a board member of ACM, stated that "pressure on publishers starts with schools' willingness to switch to other learning materials." Secondary schools in the Netherlands spend approximately €280 million annually on learning materials.

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