Take advantage of options in purchasing textbooks, CAC urges parents
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — The Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) is encouraging parents to take advantage of the varied options to minimise expenses for the purchase of textbooks for the 2018/19 academic year.
Communications Specialist at the CAC, Dorothy Campbell, outlined some of the options that parents can explore to ensure that their children are equipped with the necessary books for the new school year.
Among the options are school-book rental schemes and using social media platforms to facilitate book exchanges or buying books advertised on these platforms at a discounted rate.
Another option, she recommended, is the purchase of books from independent distributors who have established relationships with schools to supply textbooks at a reasonable cost.
Campbell is advising parents to check that these online books have the current information that is being used by the teacher.
“The CAC is all about ensuring that parents are empowered with whatever information or tools are available, so the online access is very important. However, I would caution that students who may choose to use online versions of a textbook to ensure that it is the correct edition, because sometimes there are slight revisions or very significant revisions that will entail an entire chapter being inserted, or the text may be time-sensitive,” she said.
Campbell also recommended that parents check whether the books are under revision. This can be done by comparing the International Standard Book Number (ISBN) with that of the most recent edition.
The ISBN is a 10- or 13-digit number that identifies a specific registered book, an edition of a book, or a book-like product (such as an audio book).
“Check to make sure that they match, because a book may carry the same writer, same title – everything – but that critical line …which says revised edition (with the year) is vital, as it may impact critical material,” she explained.
Campbell noted that an important part of planning are the orientation exercises hosted by schools, and urges parents to attend these sessions as they can provide valuable information to assist in managing back-to-school expenses.
