Recent Research from the UK
Findings and Summary
A survey of students in Yr 7-12 in 22 secondary schools was conducted via a questionnaire to find out the use and availability of textbooks for six core curriculum subjects. The schools were from a range of social and geographical locations in rural, suburban and inner city situation.
Of the students that responded to the questionnaire the following data resulted:
1. The findings show only 53.9% of pupils overall, are provided, in lessons with text or course books which they do not have to share with other pupils. Maths is the only subject that has little variation between year groups, with over 70% of pupils finding textbooks available. In English and Science, however, the availability of text or course books is greater for the more senior pupils.
2. The number of books available for pupils to keep with them and take home to help with additional study and homework purposes is much smaller than the number of books available in lessons. 33.9% of pupils, overall, say they have access to books that they have on extended loan or take home. The statistics for subject areas and year groups reflect those of book availability in class, with maths books being more available than English or Science and the more senior pupils having greater access.
3. Pupils who perceive access to texts makes their work easier to understand, is very high: 77.9%
4. About one in five pupils, 19%, feels that his/her parents are obliged to buy books to help with his /her studies. Mathematics appears to be the subject where this is most necessary.
5. Finally, 76.6% of pupils, overall, say that the library is adequate to meet their needs. The proportion of satisfied pupils, however, differs between subjects and year groups. In mathematics, only 52% of the pupils were content with the library provision. In all subjects the more senior pupils, yrs 11 and 12 were less confident than the junior years, with the library’s capacity to meet their requirements.
A summary of ideas expressed in pupils comments included the following:
The desire to have easier to understand texts, complaints about out of date and damaged textbooks, texts don’t explain what is covered in class, a wider range of books needed, having to share books makes work slower, books expensive and difficult for parents to afford, books not available in lessons, not enough books in the library on main subjects. Etc.