JIS: The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information will be providing textbooks and appropriate electronic and other supplies to support the National Standards Curriculum and other curricula at grades 1 to 13, for the upcoming academic year.

 

The total cost associated with these procurements for both the primary and secondary levels will be approximately $817 million.

 

“Distribution of these resources will commence in August of this year,” Minister with responsibility for Education, Hon. Karl Samuda, said during his contribution to the 2019/20 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on July 31.

 

Meanwhile, Mr. Samuda informed that the Ministry had introduced a pilot programme for the repair of damaged and worn furniture in the 2018/19 Academic Year, and that the pilot ended this month to make way for the full roll-out of the programme.

 

Under the project, the Ministry selected two schools from each parish that have a woodwork and metalwork department. These 28 schools are known as repairer schools.

 

In addition, each school is paired with a number of neighbouring schools that have furniture to be repaired, and is given just over $1.5 million per year to complete the repairs.

 

So far, 6,868 pieces of furniture have been repaired at a cost of $19.65 million.

 

“The cost to replace the furniture would have been $28.1 million. Roughly, $9 million was saved from this project,” Mr. Samuda told the House.

 

CAPTION: Minister without Portfolio with responsibility for Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Karl Samuda, addresses the House of Representatives on July 31.