The Blue Hard Cover 'School Bible,' The Bible Society's text which has been used in the island's primary schools over the last 50 years is to be replaced by the Good News Bible as of September 2002.
According to Rev. Courtney Stewart, general secretary of the Bible Society of the West Indies, the new text will have features not currently in the existing 'School Bible' and is expected to cost pretty much the same as the one being replaced.
Mr. Stewart explained that the change is being brought about on the request of the primary school students. He said the decision followed a survey commissioned by the Bible Society two years ago among students, 8-12 years of age, to determine their choice of Bible from among the Good News Bible, New International Bible, Contemporary English Version and the King James Version.
Eight out of 10 children said they found the Good News Bible easier to understand.
The Bible Society has planned four one-day 'Sacred Text' seminars, to be held across the island between Monday, January 21 and Thursday, January 24, 2002. Two Translations Consultants from the Society's parent body, the United Bible Societies, with its world office based in Reading, England, will lead the interactive workshops on the Good News Bible at the sessions.
The national launch of the Sacred Text seminars is to be held on Monday, January 21 at 9:00 a.m. at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston. The seminar series will then move to the Golf View Hotel, Mandeville, on Tuesday, January 22, the Wyndham Rose Hall, Montego Bay, on Wednesday, January 23, and the HEART Hotel and Training Centre, Runaway Bay, on Thursday, January 24, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day.
