Ministry targets book list abuse

JAMAICA’S education authorities are moving to rein in controversial school book lists after a special review found that some lists issued to parents do not match those approved by the ministry.

Education Minister Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon says an electronic system is being developed to prevent such discrepancies, amid mounting complaints annually about lengthy and expensive book lists.

The issue has dominated the news over the past few weeks, resulting in the ministry indicating that it would review schools’ textbook lists to ensure that only essential, high-quality texts are required, given agitation about escalating back-to-school costs.