By Robert Hart, Staff ReporterTHE MINISTRY of Education, Youth and Culture says overseas company, Von Hoffmann Corporation, is ahead of schedule in providing textbooks for local primary schools.
At the same time, president of the Jamaica Teachers Association (JTA), Wentworth Gabbidon, and Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Spokesman on Education, Senator Anthony Johnson, are dissatisfied with the October deadline for complete delivery to the already re-opened schools.
"The books are in the island and the end of the distribution schedule has been moved forward to October 12," Edwin Thomas, public relations officer in the Education Ministry, told The Gleaner on Wednesday. This, he said, was a switch from the deadline (about October 20) noted in last May's $51.6 million Cabinet-approved contract for the production of textbooks.
However, also speaking to The Gleaner on Wednesday, Mr. Gabbidon said: "We are very concerned about the books not being ready." Saying the JTA has been advised that the distribution will begin this week in Portland and St. Thomas, he added that teachers across the
island will have to "do something to continue with schooling until the books are there."
Von Hoffman, the successful bidder for the contract to provide the primary school books at a cost to Government of about $3 million less than the closest competitor, The Gleaner Company Ltd., was incorporated in 1962 in Delaware, United States, and specialises in the printing and distribution of textbooks.
But both Senator Johnson and JLP Senator Bruce Golding have suggested that the award of the contract to an overseas company would result in increased costs for the Government, given the recent devaluation of the Jamaican dollar.
"We don't know what are the current terms of the contract and it has also cost 200 Jamaican jobs. For the small printers it is a body blow," Senator Johnson said on Wednesday.
He also said the time-frame for distribution of books was disturbing as the reason he had received for the awarding of the contract to the foreign company was "because the local industry had been tardy in delivery."
In the past, said Senator Johnson, some books were usually delivered by the first week of the term.
This was confirmed yesterday, by The Gleaner Company's circulation/operations manager, Norman Marshall. He said that last year, when The Gleaner was charged with the responsibility of providing the books, "we were able to deliver a third of the titles on the first day of school."
Mr. Marshall also pointed out that the inability to deliver the school books prior to the start of the school year was a result of the late announcement of the successful contract bidder. "It was a 180-day contract (last year) and it commenced on June 3," he said.
He emphasised that last year the newspaper had a contract commitment to deliver the books in two tranches, and that the first was completed ahead schedule.
"What has happened this time is that none (of the books) have come," Senator Johnson said. Some teachers have even asked students to buy the books, he added.
Prior to the re-opening of schools on Monday, September 1, parents were already faced with the controversial increases in prices of books on the secondary school syllabus.
