Over the past week, schools throughout the province have participated in a high school textbook buyback program, which allows parents to return textbooks that are one to two years old for 25 per cent of what they paid for each book. The last day for the buyback is tomorrow, June 22. The Williams Government allocated $500,000 for the buyback program.

"The program was a natural follow-up to our Budget 2007 investment of $12.8 million to provide free books to students in Grades 9 to Level III," said the Honourable Joan Burke, Minister of Education. "Books have been provided for Kindergarten to Grade 8 and now, beginning in September, high school students will get their textbooks free as well."

For the upcoming school year, all students in Grades 9 to Level III will receive brand new textbooks. Minister Burke noted that the intent of providing free textbooks is to ensure students throughout the province start the year on an equal footing, in keeping with a public education system.

Wade Verge is the principal of New World Island Academy and provincial president of the School Administrators Council. "I am very pleased to see high school children get free textbooks, so we no longer have students who start the school year without books because they can�t afford to pay. This is a positive change that will provide some financial relief for many families."

The used textbooks that are being bought back by schools can be kept by schools as replacements for lost books and will become part of the general textbook inventory. They can also be given to literacy groups or to community centres for homework support if an individual school or parent chooses to do so. School districts and individual schools have also been encouraged by the Department of Education to ensure any books which cannot be used are recycled.

Cindy Fleet, director of the Nova Central School District, says the buyback program was well planned between the district and school principals and has worked very well. "School administrators have really stepped up to the plate to make this happen in a timely and efficient manner, knowing of course that being able to sell their used textbooks is a benefit for parents."

"I encourage parents to take advantage of this program while they still have the opportunity. I also want to thank the school districts and principals for working to ensure this program has run smoothly," said Minister Burke. "I understand several schools have taken advantage of the funding provided by the Provincial Government to hire an individual to help administer the program. Some schools may even have funds remaining to employ personnel to help unpack the new books that will be arriving at schools later this summer."

Parents who have not yet returned their children�s textbooks should contact their individual school.

"Parents should not face the school year with dread, wondering how to pay for their children�s education. We want students to have every opportunity to succeed, and not be held back by an inability to pay. Education is a fundamental requirement for our province�s future prosperity and we will continue to make smart investments so that every student has what they need to learn and grow," said the minister.

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Media contact:
Jacquelyn Howard
Director of Communications
Department of Education
709-729-0048, 689-2624
jacquelynhoward@gov.nl.ca

2007 06 21                                                   10:00 a.m.