China regulate student reference book market

The Ministry of Education (MOE) said Wednesday it will make further efforts to regulate the reference book market for primary and high school students by imposing stricter supervision on publication and distribution channels. In a report submitted by Minister of Education Yuan Guiren to a legislative session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, the ministry stated it will continue working with the General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP) to strengthen regulations on the editing, printing, and distribution of student's reference books. According to Yuan, education departments at all levels are not allowed to force students or schools to purchase reference books, and schools should not force students to buy those books. In China, it is common for students in primary and middle schools to do a large amount of after-class study and testing to get better exam scores, which has resulted in a booming market for reference books and workbooks and test books. Some publishing houses, book dealers and schools are blamed for seeking illegal kickbacks by forcing students to buy certain reference books.