THE Ministry of Education is spending $973.5 million under the National Textbook Loan Scheme and the Primary Textbook Programme, providing textbooks for students at the primary and secondary levels for the 2014/2015 academic year.

Chief Education Officer Dr Grace McLean said the ministry is pleased with the success that has been achieved with the textbook rationalisation/reorganisation that was embarked on earlier this year.

“Over 90 per cent of the required textbooks have been delivered to schools, with delivery of textbooks to primary schools completed and delivery to secondary schools slated to be completed by the second week in September,” she said.

Dr McLean noted that the ministry has circulated its supplementary textbook lists that will guide parents and schools in the purchase additional books.

“Titles on the ministry’s approved textbook lists offer adequate curriculum coverage, therefore schools must not include on their lists revision textbooks that address only a few areas of the curriculum,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry has procured over 6,005 pieces of furniture to be delivered to the most needed infant, primary and secondary schools.

“This year the ministry is placing emphasis on providing furniture for school teachers,” Dr Mclean said.