Senator asks for investigation regarding possible economic conspiracy between schools and publishers

SANTIAGO.- Senator Mariano Ruiz-Esquido (DC) asked the National Consumer Service (SERNAC) and the Ministry of Education to report a possible economic plot between certain educational establishments and publishing companies following a controversy that has emerged with regards to government issued text books.

The Member of Parliament also claimed that he has information about three schools -belonging to the same individual- that have performed separate business transactions with the Santillana publishing company.

"It has come to light that the same text books they bought at higher prices than those published by the state are exactly the same text books that are provided by the government and that is very strange", he added.

The legislator also indicated that it is crucial to find out if there are valid reasons to criticize the textbooks published by the Ministry of Education and determine exactly what the coverage is for schools throughout the country.