'Textbooks should be like desks: always free'
The mother of two has already managed to collect 196,000 signatures for a campaign she hopes will make the Spanish government drop textbook prices and introduce book banks.
Elena Alfaro is receiving widespread support from Spanish families who have either grown tired of paying high prices for school textbooks every year or who simply can’t afford them.
"It’s not fair that kids have to go through this," Alfaro tells Spanish news agency Europa Press.
"They end up not wanting to go to school because they feel isolated if they don’t have the newest books."
Alfaro argues the problem “can’t be resolved with charity”, but rather with an alternative system like book ownership by the school themselves.
The scheme, which is common in most European countries, sees parents paying a small deposit for the books that are lent to the pupils – a sum they get back when the textbooks are returned at the end of the school year.
According to Alfaro, this book-lending system is only being applied in regions like Andalusia, the Basque Country and Aragon.
Although her campaign has been gathering increasing attention and signatures, the mother of two has had no success yet with the Education Ministry and Spain’s ombudsman.
"Text books should be like desks: available and free from the start of the school year," Alfaro argues.
"The current system makes no sense and we’ve been dragging it along since the start of democracy in Spain. It’s time to say 'enough'."
According to a survey by Spain Consumer Organization (OCU),Spanish parents will pay an average of €189 per child in a public state school and €243 per child in a private institution.
Comments
See Also
Elena Alfaro is receiving widespread support from Spanish families who have either grown tired of paying high prices for school textbooks every year or who simply can’t afford them.
"It’s not fair that kids have to go through this," Alfaro tells Spanish news agency Europa Press.
"They end up not wanting to go to school because they feel isolated if they don’t have the newest books."
Alfaro argues the problem “can’t be resolved with charity”, but rather with an alternative system like book ownership by the school themselves.
The scheme, which is common in most European countries, sees parents paying a small deposit for the books that are lent to the pupils – a sum they get back when the textbooks are returned at the end of the school year.
According to Alfaro, this book-lending system is only being applied in regions like Andalusia, the Basque Country and Aragon.
Although her campaign has been gathering increasing attention and signatures, the mother of two has had no success yet with the Education Ministry and Spain’s ombudsman.
"Text books should be like desks: available and free from the start of the school year," Alfaro argues.
"The current system makes no sense and we’ve been dragging it along since the start of democracy in Spain. It’s time to say 'enough'."
According to a survey by Spain Consumer Organization (OCU),Spanish parents will pay an average of €189 per child in a public state school and €243 per child in a private institution.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.