ONE of the distressing inhibitors to the provision of equitable distribution of learning/teaching resources nationwide is parents’ and learners’ slow or no return of textbooks loaned to them after the latter have been promoted to a higher grade.

Education Minister, Priya Manickchand, in mulling solutions to this dilemma, recently lamented, “My heart is breaking at this level of poor citizenship. This is the first time in the history of Guyana we gave every single text book that is needed to every single public-school child…. How can we give the same love and service and benefit to this current batch of students if parents selfishly and lawlessly keep those books home? You won’t use it again and if you have younger ones we promise to get (text books) for them when they reach Grade Six.”

She pleaded, “Please return the text books. Please.”
Parents and students have a moral responsibility to return the textbooks loaned to them at the various levels of learning. Once they are finished, they must return these books so that other learners can comfortably have access in this pandemic environment.

In a nutshell, timely handing over of the books will ensure a smooth continuation of the learning process.
That said every effort must be made to ensure all textbooks for students, teachers, and schools are diligently recorded to track and retain them for use again.

The Government of Guyana, every year is spending huge sums to improve performance in the education sector, inherent in which includes a high level of accountability from all stakeholders to ensure value for the monies expended. The returning of learning materials loaned to learners is an integral part of that process.

Notably, according to the Mid-year Report for 2021, approximately $980.5 million of the education budget was spent on worksheets and textbooks. This was done to help learners who were learning from home during to the closure of traditional school.

Additionally, 165,958 textbooks were procured and distributed to approximately 13,450 Grade Six students at the primary level, alone. The return of the textbooks loaned to learners, therefore will see a vast improvement in the availability of learning materials that the Education Ministry will have at its disposal during this pandemic.

This will be a big plus for learners, who at all levels have faced challenges beyond the norm brought about by COVID-19.
Governments over the years, more particularly, the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Government, have always prioritised education, with the latter placing extensive attention on bridging the gap between coastland and hinterland learners.

This year, some $60.7 billion was allocated to the education sector, a significant increase from the sum allocated last year, geared to ensure continuity in education delivery across Guyana.

And the Ministry of Education, led by Education Minister, Priya Manickchand, must be commended for leading from the front and delivering on the mandate of the government, which has shown care and compassion to citizens, regardless of their ethnicity, religion or political affiliation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Parents and students should reciprocate and hand over all outstanding textbooks to their school to ensure a smooth continuation of the learning process.