Tyrone Reid, Enterprise Reporter

Holness

For many years, the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has been recommending English literature books, which contain expletives, for students to read in preparation for their examination.

Investigations carried out by The Gleaner revealed that students are exposed to these books as early as the ninth grade (third form).

An informal audit conducted by the Ministry of Education, after The Gleaner brought the matter to its attention, turned up at least four books with expletives ranging from the 'f-word' to the 'p-word', as well as, local curse words. Three of the books found wanting are Beka Lamb, The Humming Bird Tree and A Kestrel for a Knave.

While public debate rages as to whether the use of expletives in literature books is just lewdness or the exercise of literary licence held by writers, Education Minister Andrew Holness has pledged that the ministry would remove all books with expletives. However, he said, sixth form students would not be barred from using these books.

"Even though we acknowledge that literature should be given a greater level of flexibility, the stakeholders have to understand that not all students are prepared to appreciate the context in which the expletive is used or not all students are at the level of maturity to understand the use of expletives in a literature book," the minister said.

Not promoting vulgarity

He continued: "Clearly, the use of these books with expletives should be reserved for students who have developed the maturity and can understand and interpret the literary context. And, our policy is now that no books with expletives or with indecent language or that which would appear to promote vulgarity ... will be placed under our syllabus."

Holness also told our news team that his administration has contacted the CXC about the matter and was told that the regional body would be reviewing its recommendation of the books. He also pointed out that "CXC has acknowledged that several countries have complained". The minister insisted that CXC will have to come up with a new curriculum. But, if CXC does not decide to remove and replace the books, local students will be at a disadvantage. "We can take our action, we can tell our schools here don't use those books. But, that's the point, they (our students) would be at a disadvantage but still we can say don't use those books because there are other books that they could use."

In a telephone interview from Barbados, Glenroy Cumberbatch, pro registrar for CXC, confirmed that the regional body has received complaints from more than one country regarding the appropriateness of the books.

While pledging to provide the finer details when he returns to the island this week, Cumberbatch did divulge that the periodic review of the recommended books was in the pipeline.

"The process of reviewing of books is coming around and it will be taken into consideration seriously," he said. Cumberbatch also explained that while CXC prescribes texts, the schools choose from the list provided. Each list has a three-year lifespan.

Objections raised by parents

Meanwhile, Mervyn Crichlow, communications specialist in Trinidad and Tobago's Ministry of Education, told The Gleaner that about two years ago his administration had to deal with objections raised by some parents, who did not take kindly to their children using books with curse words.

Similar concerns were also raised by parents from St Vincent and the Grenadines. Corinne Gonsalves, local registrar for CXC in the Ministry of Education in St Vincent and the Grenadines, said during her time in the classroom, parents protested the use of a book with expletives and the school had to pull the book.

tyrone.reid@gleanerjm.com