From June 15-22, schools offering Grades 9 to Level III programming will participate in a one-time, textbook buyback program. The Honourable Joan Burke, Minister of Education, announced today that the Williams Government will provide approximately $500,000 to run the buyback program and purchase used textbooks from families.

Budget 2007 allocated $12.8 million for free high school textbooks for the prescribed curriculum in Grades 9 to Level III. In September, these students will be issued new textbooks. As a result, many families will undoubtedly have textbooks they no longer need. With the buyback program, they will be able to sell these books back to the school, recovering some of the cost they incurred when they purchased them in the past.

"It�s important that we provide this financial break for parents who have books they don�t wish to keep. There are also many other positive aspects to the buyback program," said Minister Burke. "The used books can be kept by schools as replacements for lost books and will become part of the general textbook inventory. In addition, they can be given to community centres for homework support or to literacy groups. The buyback also ensures that most of these used books don�t simply end up in our landfills."

Books that are in good condition and no more than two years old will be purchased at 25 per cent of the original cost to parents.

Books in poor condition, without a front or back cover, or with excessive writing or graffiti, will not be accepted for reimbursement. A complete list of eligible textbooks is available at all schools offering Grade 9 to Level III programming and on the Department of Education website at www.ed.gov.nl.ca/edu/k12/buyback.htm or www.ed.gov.nl.ca and click on the buyback icon at the bottom of the page.

"With the investment of $12.8 million this year for free textbooks, and the $6.3 million spent last year to eliminate school fees and the cost of consumable materials, parents will save hundreds, even thousands of dollars over the course of their children�s education," said Minister Burke.

Individual schools will determine the specific dates for their buyback program within the June 15-22 timeframe. With funding provided by the Provincial Government, schools have the option of hiring staff to administer the program.