Parents stumped by ‘ridiculous’ textbook prices

As the back-to-school shopping season reaches a crescendo, several parents are bemoaning the high cost of textbooks, which they believe their children will barely use in the upcoming academic year.

A recent Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) survey revealed that textbook prices have seen an average increase of nine per cent this year when compared to 2022. The survey was conducted between July 24-31.

Taken aback by the $14,000 she spent on just three textbooks for her niece, who is about to enter grade 10, one shopper, who gave her name only as Debbie, expressed anxiety about the family’s ability to afford the remaining 15 textbooks on her list.

“It’s just ridiculous! And this child is going to a school in the country, they have to take three buses each day, so can you imagine the cost for parents? It’s madness, honestly!” Debbie said to The Gleaner while shopping in the Corporate Area on Tuesday.

Contending that she does not believe her niece should be using that many books, she said it is an issue she intends to take up with the school.

Trudy-Ann Francis, supervisor of the Sangster’s Book Stores outlet in Springs Plaza in Half-Way Tree, St Andrew, said that apprehension that the books they are being asked to purchase will not be adequately used is common among back-to-school shoppers.

“Some parents are complaining and waiting till teachers are ready to use the textbook to purchase them … . They are complaining about having the textbook from last year or the year before and it is not completed. They are buying books and the teachers are not using them,” she said.

Rohan Allen, who was busy shopping for textbooks for his two children who are at the primary and secondary levels, told The Gleaner that he has also witnessed the seemingly low usage of books in classes.

BOOKS NOT BEING USED

“I spent $20,000-odd last year for about 10 books for primary school, and none a di books reach halfway, and the same thing a go happen this year. It is ridiculous. And it’s expensive! If we’re gonna buy it, at least the kids must be using it, nuh so?” he asked.

Additionally, Allen believes that while his children have access to rental textbooks provided by the education ministry, he believes the “most expensive ones” are left for the parents to buy.

“I think something has to be done,” he declared.

The Government has allocated $2 billion to purchase textbooks for students at the primary and secondary levels for the upcoming school year.

A sample of 58 bookstores were visited during the CAC’s survey; however, no data was obtained from one outlet. Twenty were in the Greater Kingston Metropolitan Area (GKMR) and 37 in rural towns. A total of 175 popular textbooks were surveyed, consisting of 104 secondary level, 59 primary level and 12 infant level textbooks, covering 19 subject areas.

The average price increase in the GKMR was 9.0 per cent, while it was 8.0 per cent among rural towns.

Last year, the price of textbooks increased by 8.51 per cent.

Another parent, who was shopping for her son, who will be entering high school next month, said that so far, she has spent more than $50,000 on 10 of the 14 textbooks required.

Like the other parents, she said she is “hoping” that the books she is buying are, indeed, essential.

“When he was in grade six, they told us to purchase so many books at the preparatory school, and trust me, he did not use all of them, so now, I am purchasing these with doubt ‘cause I do not want to not purchase and when he is in class, the teacher might turn up and say, ‘We’re gonna use this book’, and then when I come out now to search for it, [it is out of stock]. I don’t want that, so it’s a risk. We just have to do it as parents,” she said.

She is calling for more consultation to determine what books students will use more to guide parents’ purchases.

“We (parents) don’t make money, we don’t grow money, we have to work for it, and when we purchase the textbooks and they are not being used, it pains our heart,” she said.

sashana.small@gleanerjm.com