After a long holiday, it is now time to get serious. This week, parents had the daunting task of completing preparations for the new school year. Long queues could be seen outside bookshops throughout the island. News on Sunday toured the bookshops.
If many shops could take a few days off after the end of year festivities, it is a different story for bookstores around the island. Parents have queued up for hours to get all the required textbooks. Textbooks are the costliest school materials. Many parents, who have saved upfront to buy schools materials, are complaining about the prices of textbooks. Other textbooks are out of stock. Availability of books Prithvi Fowdur, director of Antara bookshops, indicates that there is a delay on certain text books. “Around 20 textbooks for Form 1 to Form 5 classes were not on the market. However, most of them will be delivered by next week. There has been a delay in receiving some of them as the stocks have been detained at the port and the Éditions de l’Ocean Indien (EOI) has also known a delay in delivery this year.” At the University Bookshop in Port Louis, certain books are not yet available namely Success in Physics Form 3, Success in Chemistry and Success in Biology. As the sales person explains, there have been some delays this year. “Other books, namely Home Economics, New Simpler French Course Form 4 and Entrepreneurship books for Form 1 to Form 3 are not yet on the market. As for some of them we have received only a limited quantity, they have been rapidly out of stock,” explains the sales person. At Éditions Le Printemps Ltd (ELP), Ashmad Sulliman explains that textbooks for academic year 2016 are not out stock. “All Éditions Le Printemps books are available. However, it is some of the Éditions de L’Ocean Indien (EOI) and BM books which are lacking. Moreover, there is less control over the books categorised as ‘Open Title’. Such textbooks can be ordered by anyone, which has a significant impact on the availability of these manuals on the market,” he explains. He adds that the textbook ‘Master Your English’ for Form IV and V is out stock. “We have already sold 4,500 copies. The new copies are here but there are problems at the port,” states Ashmad Sulliman. The poem book “Walk Down Memory Lane” was also not available. The cause of this delay are procedures before the printing. “It is a new book. The author was not in Mauritius. There was no other choice but to wait for his signature to proceed with printing. The book will be available from January 12. We have printed around 2,000 copies,” he says. Prices Parents have to budget around Rs 2,000-6,000 solely for textbooks. Prices have been impacted by the depreciation of the rupee. An increase of 10% has been noticed this year. Director of BM Bookcentre, Mahmad Mittoo, states that the prices of books published by his library have not increased. Imported books cost between Rs 15 to Rs 400 more while other publications have known an increase of Rs 5 to Rs 125. Prithvi Fowdur, director of Antara Bookshop indicates that the prices of books in 2016 are reasonable. However, books for subjects such as economics, physics and chemistry cost more than those for languages. “For example, for the HSC, an economics book can cost between Rs 800 and Rs 1,000 while a Hindi book is Rs 50,” says the director. Ashmad Sulliman claims prices of books published by Éditions Le Printemps have known no price hike. The director added that some books, namely the ‘Open Title’ ones, now cost upto 10% more. New books versus used books According to Prithvi Fowdur, director of Antara Bookshop, most parents prefer to buy used books as they are cheaper and because their children will only use them once. A salesperson at University Bookshop in Port Louis explains that parents buy both new and used books. “It depends on the book. For example, for the new editions, parents will definitely have to buy new ones.” Used books cost more than half the price of a new one. “Those who buy used textbooks will have to pay about 60% of the normal price.” Ashmad Sulliman confides that it is the first time that Éditions Le Printemps is selling used books. Rs 500-Rs 1,000 for school materials Apart from books, parents have to buy school materials such notebooks, pens, pencils, compass sets, sketch pads and paintbrushes. A pack of copybooks can cost between Rs 100 to Rs 250 depending on the number of pages. Moreover, the price of backpacks also differs depending on the size. The minimum price is Rs 325 for simple bags and Rs 1,500-Rs 2,000 for branded bags. The price of shoes can vary between Rs 250 for a basic mode whereas a branded one could cost Rs 2000 or more.
Some of the New Editions for Academic Year 2016 • Computer Studies • Entrepreneurship Form3 • Focus Maths Book1 • Biology Matters • Abrico 3e annee • Francais au College 2e Edition (O-Level) • Oral Practice New Edition (O-Level) • Step in Design and Tech 3 New Edition
Testimonies
Reena: “I prefer to buy used books for my children” Reena, whose four children are in college, says she cannot afford to buy new books. “I prefer to buy used books. In case there is no choice, then I might buy one or two new ones. Used textbooks are much cheaper. A new book can easily cost me more than Rs 300 but I can get a used one for Rs 125-200. I must make cater for all my four children,” she says. Ramlall: “New books are expensive” Ramlall has a daughter in Form 2 and he has already spent Rs 2,000 on books till now. “This year, I had no other option but to buy both new and used books. When my daughter was in form 1, I bought only new ones but I must admit it is expensive,” he avers. Diane: “I prefer new books” The son of Diane is going to Form 1 and she prefers to buy her son new books. “The 12 books cost me around Rs 2,500 and other materials around Rs 1,000. I prefer new books as it is the first time that he is going to college and I want him to have a hassle free year. I don’t want my son to get a bad experience for his first year,” she states. Mohamud Yassir: “The prices are affordable” Yassir believes that the prices of books are affordable. “Not all parents. I have always bought new books for my children and this year also it is the same. I believe that buying new books for my children is encouraging and they also develop a sense of belonging,” he confides. Claudio: “A mixture of new and used” Claudio has one child in Form 5 and another one has been admitted in Form 1. “Fortunately, for Form 5, I do not have to buy books as such. Just one or two past exam papers. For the child in Form 1, it is a mixture of new and used ones. Apart from textbooks we have other expenses as well. So we have to plan better. Even if the books are used, they are in good condition. What is important is that the child is able to read and use the textbook,” he reveals. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"7931","attributes":{"class":"media-image wp-image-13287 aligncenter","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"256","height":"198","alt":"Class-Price-range"}}]]If many shops could take a few days off after the end of year festivities, it is a different story for bookstores around the island. Parents have queued up for hours to get all the required textbooks. Textbooks are the costliest school materials. Many parents, who have saved upfront to buy schools materials, are complaining about the prices of textbooks. Other textbooks are out of stock. Availability of books Prithvi Fowdur, director of Antara bookshops, indicates that there is a delay on certain text books. “Around 20 textbooks for Form 1 to Form 5 classes were not on the market. However, most of them will be delivered by next week. There has been a delay in receiving some of them as the stocks have been detained at the port and the Éditions de l’Ocean Indien (EOI) has also known a delay in delivery this year.” At the University Bookshop in Port Louis, certain books are not yet available namely Success in Physics Form 3, Success in Chemistry and Success in Biology. As the sales person explains, there have been some delays this year. “Other books, namely Home Economics, New Simpler French Course Form 4 and Entrepreneurship books for Form 1 to Form 3 are not yet on the market. As for some of them we have received only a limited quantity, they have been rapidly out of stock,” explains the sales person. At Éditions Le Printemps Ltd (ELP), Ashmad Sulliman explains that textbooks for academic year 2016 are not out stock. “All Éditions Le Printemps books are available. However, it is some of the Éditions de L’Ocean Indien (EOI) and BM books which are lacking. Moreover, there is less control over the books categorised as ‘Open Title’. Such textbooks can be ordered by anyone, which has a significant impact on the availability of these manuals on the market,” he explains. He adds that the textbook ‘Master Your English’ for Form IV and V is out stock. “We have already sold 4,500 copies. The new copies are here but there are problems at the port,” states Ashmad Sulliman. The poem book “Walk Down Memory Lane” was also not available. The cause of this delay are procedures before the printing. “It is a new book. The author was not in Mauritius. There was no other choice but to wait for his signature to proceed with printing. The book will be available from January 12. We have printed around 2,000 copies,” he says. Prices Parents have to budget around Rs 2,000-6,000 solely for textbooks. Prices have been impacted by the depreciation of the rupee. An increase of 10% has been noticed this year. Director of BM Bookcentre, Mahmad Mittoo, states that the prices of books published by his library have not increased. Imported books cost between Rs 15 to Rs 400 more while other publications have known an increase of Rs 5 to Rs 125. Prithvi Fowdur, director of Antara Bookshop indicates that the prices of books in 2016 are reasonable. However, books for subjects such as economics, physics and chemistry cost more than those for languages. “For example, for the HSC, an economics book can cost between Rs 800 and Rs 1,000 while a Hindi book is Rs 50,” says the director. Ashmad Sulliman claims prices of books published by Éditions Le Printemps have known no price hike. The director added that some books, namely the ‘Open Title’ ones, now cost upto 10% more. New books versus used books According to Prithvi Fowdur, director of Antara Bookshop, most parents prefer to buy used books as they are cheaper and because their children will only use them once. A salesperson at University Bookshop in Port Louis explains that parents buy both new and used books. “It depends on the book. For example, for the new editions, parents will definitely have to buy new ones.” Used books cost more than half the price of a new one. “Those who buy used textbooks will have to pay about 60% of the normal price.” Ashmad Sulliman confides that it is the first time that Éditions Le Printemps is selling used books. Rs 500-Rs 1,000 for school materials Apart from books, parents have to buy school materials such notebooks, pens, pencils, compass sets, sketch pads and paintbrushes. A pack of copybooks can cost between Rs 100 to Rs 250 depending on the number of pages. Moreover, the price of backpacks also differs depending on the size. The minimum price is Rs 325 for simple bags and Rs 1,500-Rs 2,000 for branded bags. The price of shoes can vary between Rs 250 for a basic mode whereas a branded one could cost Rs 2000 or more.
Some of the New Editions for Academic Year 2016 • Computer Studies • Entrepreneurship Form3 • Focus Maths Book1 • Biology Matters • Abrico 3e annee • Francais au College 2e Edition (O-Level) • Oral Practice New Edition (O-Level) • Step in Design and Tech 3 New Edition
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