Flood destroys $$$ millions in school textbooks

Jul 26, 2012 News

…Education Ministry plans a large bonfire
Thousands of school textbooks valued millions of dollars have been damaged in flood waters at the Department of Education in New Amsterdam, Region Six. This newspaper discovered piles of books dumped aback of the Department of Education building.
According to reports they will be burnt. The books of different kinds and for different levels of children in the school system were procured at great cost to the taxpayers.

The flooded Department of Education a few weeks ago

Efforts to contact Mrs Shafiran Bhajan, Regional Education Officer, proved futile, since she was said to be out of the country. “First time I am hearing about it; I will investigate it right away,” said the Region Six Chairman.
.The texts such as, Mathematics- Complete Course with CXC Questions 3rd edition 2010; Fun with Language (Primary) all sets; Longman Office Administration for CXC; Complete; Maths Course for Secondary Schools Books 1 and 2; Ralph Reader 1-6 ; Exercise books;; CXC Modules for all subjects ; Science around Us- Books 1-5; Composition and Comprehension for Primary Schools; Information Technology for CXC; Geography for CXC ; Carpentry for CXC; Broadcasts to Schools Books and Adventures in English Book 3 as well as hundreds of exercise books were all stored in the lower flat of the two- storey building.
They were all destroyed a few weeks ago after the Berbice River overtopped and flooded most of the area, including Philadelphia Street, New Amsterdam where the department is located.
According to an unnamed source, the books could have been stored in a safer, less flood- prone environment and “could have been of good service to the children if they were properly managed.”
Many are of the view, too, that the books, many of which are not totally destroyed, could have been dried and given out to less fortunate children or school children.