The new approach is more competitive. The ministry announces that it is accepting entries for a new preparatory science book, for instance, and the best suggestion is chosen. Unfortunately, however, it is unlikely that books prepared in this way will be available to students at all levels. The ministry has only managed to upgrade primary books so far, explains Abu Gharib, because the idea is to upgrade one level per year. The lack of resources, she adds, also has an impact on the quality of textbooks.
Some books just look ugly.
They are in black and white and the paper is very bad quality. I once opened a geography book where forests were shown on a map in red and purple. When I pointed this out, they told me that this was the best the printing machines could do. Abu Gharib believes that books should not be the responsibility of the ministry alone. In advanced countries, she said, different publishing houses compete to release the best books.