Mad rush for school books

SCORES of parents from the deep southern areas of Rio Claro, Penal and Siparia crowded the books’ stores in Princes Town and San Fernando last Thursday in a last minute rush for school books.

The new academic year starts on September 3, only four days away. Although store owners complain about the shortage in text books and stationery items, there were long lines at the cashiers in the stores in southern towns. Parents have been journeying from far off villages of Mayaro, Rio Claro Siparia, Penal and Barrackpore to San Fernando and Port-of-Spain in search of text books and stationery items for school. Many parents complained about the constant runaround they are getting to get the correct books as requested by the schools. Raymond Dindial of Rio Claro told Newsday that he has made several visits to Princes Town and San Fernando in search of text books for his four children. “Parents are forced to take many days to get the books their children need for the new school term. I believe that the government should look into this matter urgently and provide some way for the students to access the books they need,” he said. Parents have not yet received the government’s book grants, but many parents have bought books hoping to be compensated later.

Another parent, Hafeeza Zainool, of Fyzabad said that while the previous administration sought to bring secondary education closer to home for students, there is a need to get the book and other school requirements through the schools for these students. Parents whose children have been successful in the recent SEA exams were advised that text books will be provided for students on a rental basis on September 2 at the school. Communications Officer of the Ministry of Education Hilton Braveboy said many secondary schools have already received books to be rented for students. Schools that received books for rental purposes include, Holy Cross College, St Georges College, Tunapuna Government Secondary, Bishop Anstey High School, and many others. Many of the bookstores carry signs saying that the shops will be open for business on Sunday.