Book fair focuses on academic reforms

MANILA, Philippines - The upcoming ASEAN Integration will make a significant adjustment in the entire academic system, to open up to students from the different member nations, requiring colleges and universities to keep up with their counterparts in other countries.

This major development comes right at the heels of the implementation of DepEd’s K to 12 program, which continues to be a challenge for educational institutions as they complete teacher training and gathering of resources for the two additional year levels added to the curriculum.

In response to the current and impending academic reforms in the country, the Academic Booksellers Association of the Philippines (ABAP) is conducting the 18th Philippine Academic Book Fair from July 9 to 11 at the Megatrade Hall 1, 5th Level, Mega B, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong.

An annual event mounted by ABAP, the Philippine Academic BookFair gathers ABAP’s associate booksellers and importers in one venue to showcase new books for review and acquisition of academicians, specialized professions, and educational institutions.

Towards global competitiveness

Evelyn Bonus-Millar, chairman of the Philippine Academic Book Fair, explains that the ASEAN integration will definitely have a huge effect on both schools and the bookselling industry.

“For schools to become competitive on a global aspect, the schools must adjust and update their library and core selection and books to be at par with other ASEAN institutions,” says Millar.

While ABAP’s member booksellers participate in the event by showcasing their new books, the event itself represents a deeper social and economic significance for the bookselling industry as well as the current academic status of the country. The academic changes present an opportunity for booksellers to adjust to the needs of academic reforms.

“ABAP members will have to adjust their importation of titles to answer the needs of the academic reforms like the ASEAN integration and K to 12. Right now we can’t feel the effect of the integration.  But we are preparing for the upcoming needs of these reforms, and the Academic Book Fair will ease the adjustment,” says Millar, who is also the general manager of Golden Books Services Inc. in Quezon City.

Dina Berioso, president of ABAP and managing director of IBC Book Consolidators, Inc.  explains that schools must be at par with other ASEAN and progressive countries in terms of quality of instruction to be  globally competitive. .

“Schools must be able to provide their students with the knowledge and employable skills to compete for jobs and be gainfully employed when they graduate from high school or college. This is the reason for the K to 12 curriculum….”