Government-Made (BSE-Buku Sekolah Elektronik) vs Commercial Textbooks: Which One Is Better?

Abstract

The Indonesian Ministry of Education provides a free electronic and printed textbook called BSE (Buku Sekolah Elektronik) that they recommend using. However, schools have their authority to choose their compulsory textbooks. Based on the preliminary observation of BSE, it has some limitations regarding physical appearance, content, design, organisation, methodology and cultural sensitivity. Many studies analyse a comparison between government-made and commercial textbooks. However, none of the studies analyses English language textbooks that cover analysis in the above limitation aspects. This research purpose to give a comparative analysis of government-made and commercial textbooks. The subject of this study was chosen using a purposive sampling technique. Namely, one 7th grade English language textbook made by the Indonesian government and the most commonly used of Indonesian commercial English language textbooks published by Erlangga, Yudhistira and Tiga Serangkai. This research employs qualitative methodology with descriptive analysis method using the modified framework developed by McDonough (2012). The analysis will examine external aspects (visual materials gender and cultural sensitivity) and a closer and detailed evaluation from internal aspects (reading skills, listening skills, speaking skills, and writing skills). This study will have several implications. Namely, 1) Look at how impactful a selection of government and private textbooks for teaching ESL, 2) Have a positive impact on English language education by providing essential information for schools to choose textbooks, and 3) Identify how far the textbooks engage with the theory of good textbooks production.