Edmond Campbell, Senior News Coordinator

The 2006/2007 academic year is expected to get off to a smooth start as the Government moves feverishly to fine-tune plans for the beginning of the school year in September.

Government has approved several contracts relating to the provision of textbooks and the national school-feeding programme.

Under the National Textbooks Programme for secondary schools, Government awarded four contracts to Carlong Publishers valued at $159.7 million; Sangster's Book Stores, at a cost of $81.9 million; Kingston Bookshop, to the tune of $278.6 million; and Book Wizard Limited, amounting to $55.5 million.

Cabinet was informed that, because the original bidding prices exceeded the budget of the Ministry of Education and Youth, the quantity of books supplied had to be reduced by some 75 per cent of the original amount required.

He said, however, that, in the vocational subject areas, all students will have access to texts.

Information Minister Colin Campbell said yesterday that Cabinet had also approved two contracts under the Government's school-feeding programme.

T. Geddes Grant received $41.1 million and GraceKennedy was awarded $11.7 million to provide supplies to primary schools.

On another issue, Cabinet provided a government guarantee of $1.77 billion to a number of banks participating in the students' loan programme.

Meanwhile, Mr. Campbell reported that Education Minister Maxine Henry- Wilson would make a full Cabinet submission on preparations for the new school year on Monday.

- E.C.