Kumasi, June 2, GNA - Dr Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa, Senior Lecturer, Department of Publishing Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has appealed to the government to ensure full implementation of the textbook development and distribution policy. Under the policy, the government is required to provide well stocked libraries in regional and district capitals, as well as other communities. He said there should not be any doubt that this, if done, could significantly assist to raise the quality of the country's education. Dr Opoku-Amankwa was addressing the opening session of a three-day boo= k bazaar to commemorate the world's book and copyright day, organized by th= e Ghana Book Publishers Association (GBPA), in collaboration with the Department in Kumasi. He underlined the key role books played in the development of educatio= n and said issues concerning books and distribution should be given more attention. Dr Opoku-Amankwa urged textbook valuators at the Ministry of Education (MOE) to put the nation's interest ahead of any other consideration and m= ake sure that books they gave approval to met standards.

They should not gloss over mistakes and lapses they might notice. Mr Joseph Onyinah, Ashanti Regional Director of Education, in an address read for him, said the introduction of the National Literacy Instruction Approach (NALAP), which was meant to prepare children with good reading skills right from the start of schooling. The Kumasi Metropolitan Director of Education, Mrs Gladys Amaning, sai= d there was the need for parents to buy books for their children to supplemen= t what is given to them in school.

She called on the GBPA to make the book bazaar an annual affair to help pupils and students to purchase variety of books at a central point without the trouble of having to go round looking for the books. Mr Asare Konadu, President, GBPA, said a second look should be taken a= t the removal of library and reading sessions from the school's timetable