Parents purchasing books, but sales slow

Despite the Textbook Rental/Loan Programme that Government is set to introduce in both primary and secondary schools at the beginning of the new term in September, parents are still purchasing books for their off-springs to familiarise themselves before school re-opens. This is the general consensus of many bookstore managers and second-hand book sellers. Speaking to Newsday yesterday, members of the Woodford Square Booksellers Association, Julius Samuel and Kathleen Humphrey, said many parents were still buying books in the various subject areas, especially for Forms One and Two. The Education Ministry is providing textbooks in four subject areas — Reading, Language Arts, Mathematics and Science — from September to all students attending public and private primary schools. The books will be used for a period of two years and will become the property of the schools. In addition to the textbooks, a dictionary and an atlas will also be provided to students in Standards Two and Three, respectively.

Students in Forms One and Two of all public and private secondary schools will also be loaned textbooks for a one-year period in four subject areas as determined by the schools — Language Arts, Mathematics, Spanish and Science. The Textbook Rental/Loan Programme will over time be extended to students in Forms Three to Five in other subjects. Pointing out that books for Form’s Three, Four and Six were still in demand, both Samuel and Humphrey agreed that it “was not a negative thing Government was doing” as they referred to the Textbook Rental and Loan Programme. The second-hand booksellers would also like parents to know that they can use the ABM Cards being issued by the ministry to withdraw funds from the bank, and that they don’t necessarily need to visit a bookstore to “swipe” the card. Managing Director of Ishmael M Khan and Sons Bookstore, Kelvin Khan, said it was ultimately up to persons purchasing books to check and compare the prices of textbooks. However, he urged parents to be sure of what they were buying and that the books were the latest edition, especially when purchasing from second-hand booksellers. 

Confirming that these programmes (rental and loan) would “cut into the financial turnover” of the respective bookstores, Khan said persons going on holidays were coming in early. He added that some parents wanted their kids to have their books early so they could get a head-start on the new school term, but admitted that this percentage was in the minority. Checks with Charran’s Bookstore revealed their book season didn’t actually start until the end of this month, and would last through August. However, officials at Charran’s would only say that “it was too early” to say if Government’s initiatives would impact on their sales in the upcoming season. When Newsday contacted the Port-of-Spain branch of Mohammed’s Bookstore, sources confirmed that there had indeed been a decline in sales, but remained optimistic that things would “pick up” towards the end of the month. They added that holiday persons were shopping quite early. Manager at RIK, Errol Shim would only say that sales have not been “as bright as in previous years” so far and that they were awaiting parents with book grant checks.