Ministry to expand Textbook Loan Programme

THE Ministry of Education has broadened the scope of its Textbook Rental/Loan Programme, focussing on the needs of students at early childhood centres, and those with special educational needs for the 2004/2005 academic year. A release yesterday from the Ministry said an estimated $500 per student would be used to purchase resources for students in early childhood centres under the Ministry’s direct pur-view, to assist with material critical to their learning development. Needs of students in special educational institutions at the primary level will be met by the acquisition of resources to cater to their visual, mental and emotional challenges. A sum of $1,000 per student will be used for the provision of resour-ces for students attending special secondary level institutions.

Students attending the technical/vocational centres such as Servol Junior Life and Adolescent Centres, St Bede’s Voca-tional Centres and Good-will Industries are also to benefit. The Ministry said a maximum of $1,500 per student will be used to provide the resources required by students enrolled in the various programmes at the above centres. The release added that special educational needs of students in traditional primary and secondary schools will also be catered for. A sum of $1,000 per student will be used to acquire materials with a high interest but low reading level for approximately 12 percent of the primary school population and ten percent of the secondary school population. In addition to the special needs, the Ministry assured it would continue with the rental/loan programme for primary and secondary schools.