Solution to text book fiasco

THE EDITOR: The perfect solution to the “School Text Book fiasco” that has been going on ever since I went to school, thirty-odd years ago, is first and foremost the standardisation of the textbooks. Face the facts, Mrs Minister of Education, every single child in this Nation will sit the identical exam at the end of their school life, viz SEA and CXC.

Why, therefore, are there so many varying textbooks aimed at sitting the identical exam? The answer has been apparent for years and that is dubious practices on the part of the Ministry of Education and the book writers, manufacturers and sellers. To quote your husband and Prime Minister — “enough is enough!” Upon the standardisation of the school books, every school will be granted the funds necessary to purchase the quantity of textbooks necessary to supply each and every child attending the schools with all of the textbooks required. A reasonable rental fee, (eg $480 = $40 per month), will then be charged that will suit the pockets of each and every parent, of each and every child attending the school, be they poor or rich. Every school will have to open a special bank account that will deal only with the rental of the textbooks. Prior to the beginning of the new academic year, every parent will go to the bank stipulated by the school to which their child attends and pay the full rental fee. They will then receive a receipt from the bank. On the first day of school, the receipts will be presented to the class teachers, who will then deliver to every child the full complement of school textbooks for the year. Parents will only have to purchase the necessary accessories, ie pens, copybooks, etc.

There is absolutely, and I reiterate absolutely, no reason why any textbook should change so drastically every school year to warrant a total replacement of a book. Maths never changes as one and one will always equal two and the same goes for English as a noun will always be the name of any person, place or thing, etc. History is ongoing but unchanging and booklets can be added to the History books rather than the total replacement of the book. I make no apologies to the book writers, manufacturers and sellers as you have made a mint over all these years and it is time to see to the children of this nation. At the end of every academic year, the books will be returned to the school in prime condition. The parents will compensate for the destruction of school-books that were assigned to their children. The schools will have an initial cost outlay but the books will eventually pay for themselves. The rental fees will then generate revenue for the schools who will be responsible for replacement of the books, which are subject to normal wear and tear. This would guarantee equal opportunity to each and every child of this nation to obtain an education and there will be little chance of some of the really intelligent but poor ones falling through the proverbial “cracks.” Shoes and school bags should also be standardised as our children are wearing uniforms to attend school and everything for school should, therefore, be uniform. There is a time and place for everything and school is a place for learning and not seeing who has on the most expensive sneakers. The achievement of the school will now rest equally on the shoulders of the teachers with the co-operation of the children and their parents, as there will no longer be any excuse as to why a child does not have a book. The word “prestige” would now be an adjective that is “earned” not inherited.

ELIZABETH ARCHER
Trinbagonian For Equal Rights for all children