Education ministry to review textbook lists amid cost concerns

Jamaica’s Education Ministry plans to review school textbook lists after parents and advocacy groups raised concerns about the cost of sending children back to school.

Parliamentary Secretary Senator Marlon Morgan announced the review during a visit to Edward Seaga Primary School in Kingston on the first day of the 2026/27 academic year. He said the ministry wants to create a master list that clearly separates mandatory texts from approved supplementary books.

Morgan said some families make significant sacrifices to buy prescribed books, only to discover that some are never used during the school year. Teachers may need several resources to enrich lessons, he said, but requiring students to purchase five to seven books for one subject can create an unsustainable burden.

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The ministry will be taking a serious look at this… concerning issue of book lists. We have listened, and we have heard the complaints. [Portfolio Minister, Senator Dr the Honourable Dana Morris Dixon] has [made note] of the concerns, and we are going to be responding.

“The ministry will be taking a serious look at this… concerning issue of book lists. We have listened, and we have heard the complaints. [Portfolio Minister, Senator Dr the Honourable Dana Morris Dixon] has [made note] of the concerns, and we are going to be responding,” Morgan said.

He said the ministry would work with schools and parents to ensure that required books receive priority. “We want to have book lists that clearly set out the mandatory or required texts, and then have other texts that are really supplemental reading or recommended texts which are separate and apart from the mandatory texts,” he explained.

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We want to have book lists that clearly set out the mandatory or required texts, and then have other texts that are really supplemental reading or recommended texts which are separate and apart from the mandatory texts.