The Book Industry Organisation of T&T (BIOTT) says it is ready and willing to meet with Education Minister Anthony Garcia to explore ways of improving the ministry’s textbook rental programme as they move forward.
The request for a meeting follows last week’s announcement by Garcia that textbooks bearing school stamps were being sold via second-hand booksellers on the streets of Port-of-Spain.
Garcia later said the information had been brought to his attention from concerned teachers and parents.
Up to last Friday, Garcia said they had not been in receipt of any of the books which had allegedly been purchased from second-hand booksellers.
However, he urged people in possession of these texts to come forward and assist the police with their investigation.
National Security Minister Edmund Dillon has confirmed the matter would be placed in the hands of acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams.
Unwilling to ascribe blame to any particular person or entity, Garcia said the ministry was exploring several options as to how the books ended up in the hands of the second-hand booksellers which included errant students and parents; the offer of excess books by school officials; and collusion on the part of the publishers responsible for printing and distributing the textbooks.
BIOTT president, Rico Charran, last week defended his members as he said the numbers of published textbooks were dependent on information stated on invoice orders from the Ministry of Education and that delivery was done according to the ministry’s instructions.
He said yesterday any textbooks bearing a school stamp was a clear indication that the books had been delivered to the respective school and that it was up to the ministry to examine their internal accounting processes.
Charran said claims by Garcia that textbooks bearing school stamps was clear confirmation that, “the school can only have stamped books that were delivered.”
He said: “This incontrovertible evidence supports the fact that all textbooks were delivered to schools,” and that any such speculation that publishers were involved in any sort of plan to sell textbooks belonging to the ministry was “completely and wholly unfounded.”
Charran said: “In light of the above, BIOTT finds the minister’s accusatory statement unfortunate and regrettable.”
Referring to the excess textbooks in the system, Charran said Garcia should seek clarification on the matter from the Chief Education Officer who has oversight in the preparation of textbook orders.