BOOK DISTRIBUTION PROGRAMME BEING EXPANDED
St. George's, Grenada, Saturday June 20, 2009 - The government’s free school books programme is being expanded. The programme will now involve not just the public pre-primary and primary schools but secondary and private schools as well.
The Free School Books programme was implemented at the start of the school year last September but because of time limitations only the public pre-primary and primary schools were given all their books while 4 core textbooks – English, Mathematics, Science and Information & Communication technology - were provided to 4th and 5th form students at the secondary schools.
This time, however, Minister for Education and Human Resource Development Senator Frank Alexis-Bernardine explains that things will be different.
“Our aim is to provide every secondary school child with the basic text book for the subject he or she will be studying.”
According to the minister this is a big undertaking and would only flow smoothly if everyone cooperates and works together to make it happen.
The inclusion of the private schools she says will increase the number of students benefiting under the programme by approximately 2,000. Statistics indicate that approximately 24,000 children are currently being assisted under the school book programme. The minister says that including the private schools will bring that figure to approximately 26,000.
One private school which already has a functioning book programme has opted out; the other private schools, however, are included. Senator Bernadine says the Ministry is in the business of educating and no one must be left out.
“The policy of this ministry is that a child is a child and we are into the business of nation building, not merely giving a hand out and all children must be given the chance”.
The Ministry’s Book Distribution Task Force has been reactivated and is working towards the start of the new school year.
The books which were distributed last year are to be returned by the end of the school year on July 3rd 2009 for repairs and binding where necessary.
Written By: MOEPRO
Date Posted: 6/20/2009
Number of Views: 2272
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