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Suggests that no single universal cause behind the persistent under-financing of textbook provision in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries exists, but some common components include, (1) the pressure on teaching and learning materials (TLM) budgets caused by rapid enrollment growth; (2) the repeated tendency for curriculum designers to make decisions without taking into account the cost implications on the system as a whole; (3) the failure of development partner (DP) support to addressed affordability and sustainability issues; (4) the misunderstanding of ministries of education (MOEs) and DPs concerning manufacturing versus textbook cost as well as textbook versus system cost; (5) the lack of review and management of the nature and extent of fund diversion, fund misappropriation, piracy, and price mark-ups in undermining allocated TLM funding; and (6) the lack of monitoring, inspection, supervision, and financial audit systems necessary to ensure that all links in the financing and supply chain operate effectively.

DOI: 10.1596/978-1-4648-0572-1_ch5