When the new school year starts on September 1, primary and secondary school students across China will have access to different versions of textbooks.

Gone are the days when millions of students used the same textbooks, year after year.

In the near future, all eligible education institutions and presses will be entitled to bid for publishing different versions of textbooks, so that schools and students will be able to choose their favorite version, Monday's Beijing Youth Daily quotes a source from the educational circle as saying.

The People's Education Press is no more the monopolistic publisher of primary and secondary school textbooks. Fourteen piblishing hourses have participated in compiling textbooks for the forthcoming school year.

Meanwhile, distribution of the textbooks will also be diversified. Individuals will be allowed to distribute textbooks, as long as they guarantee quality and timely delivery.

(Xinhua News Agency 08/27/2001)