Dr. Lewis said the changes at the secondary school level were necessary, due to new subjects added to the CXC curriculum.

Minister for Education, Human Resource Development and Labor, the Hon. Dr. Robert Lewis is considerate to the needs of parents and students. In his statement to the House of Assembly, today. he addressed the issue of the recently undertaken book list review. 

Minister Lewis said that the primary and secondary school book lists are reviewed every five years, but because no review was done in 2010, his ministry commissioned the latest review.  At the conclusion of the review, it was decided to preserve the primary school book list and to make changes at the secondary school level.

According to Dr. Lewis the changes at the secondary school level were needed because the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has been adding subjects to the curriculum over the last ten years. The education minister said that although students were prepared to write the subjects, no set textbooks were assigned.  In the new scheme of operations, students will be properly equipped with the necessary knowledge and texts to help them succeed in future exams.

Dr. Lewis said that every care and consideration was taken with the changes made to the secondary school booklist. He added that his ministry understands the concerns with the cost of the new book lists but underscores that the secondary school bursary program and the school transport subsidy program, among others, are in place to help alleviate the financial burden on students, parents and guardians.