Today was the second day of school for primary school students and it was the second day without their free textbooks. We've been unable to reach a representative from the Ministry of Education for comment but we have been talking to parents. We spoke to parents from three large schools today: St. Ignatius Primary School, St. John's Vianney, and Grace Primary School as they picked up their children from school. None of those children had gotten their textbooks.
KS: Did she get her textbooks?
Parent #1 from St. John's Vianney: No, not yet.
KS: Are you concerned?
Parent #1 from St. John's Vianney: Yes.
Parent #2 from St. John's Vianney: Well I noh sure if they got it yet so I am not sure. I am very concerned.
KS: Has your child gotten her textbooks?
Parent #3 from St. John's
Vianney: No she hasn't. I believe sometime this week they will be getting it.
KS: As a parent are you concerned?
Parent #3 from St. John's Vianney: To a certain extent yes but this is the first week and they don't usually do a lot of work.
KS: But if you were buying the books, you would have already bought them right?
Parent #3 from St. John's Vianney: Of course. We have to be ready at all times.
KS: Has your niece gotten your textbooks yet?
Parent #4 from St. John's Vianney: No they haven't gotten any textbooks because when you register them, all they give them is a booklist of exercise books and different books to take but nothing with textbooks.
I am concerned but we just have to wait and see what happens. With that signing and what they said that we have to sign for books, I don't think I will do it.
KS: Why?
Parent #4 from St. John's Vianney: It doesn't make any sense. Why will we sign for something which they can't take home.
Parent #1 from St. Ignatius: Hmm I don't know what is going on with them at the school. I don't know. I don't know sir...they said they would get together and have a meeting so I don't know when.
KS: Have they gotten their textbooks yet?
Parent #1 from Grace Primary: No because at Grace Primary you buy your textbooks for the infants.
KS: So at Grace Primary you had to buy books?
Parent #1 from Grace Primary: Yes.
Parent #2 from Grace Primary: I have two children going here and both of them have all their books. I know I bought all of them so...
KS: Why did you buy your books?
Parent #2 from Grace Primary: Because they need them so I have to buy them.
KS: But the Ministry of Education said the books would be free.
Parent #2 from Grace Primary: Well I don't know. I know that I bought them.
For clarity, the parents at Grace Primary told us that they made a decision to buy different textbooks for their children. The school plans to still use the free textbooks - whenever they do get them. We'll keep following the story.
