MEMORANDUM

TO:

Mrs. A. Lee-Isaac

FROM:

Rick Peters

DATE:

28 November 2014

SUBJECT:

Lack of Textbooks

We are pleased to present a report on the lack of textbooks. This was a group project, completed
as part of the course BUS115, Applied Communication Skills II.
The purpose of this report is to determine to what extent the lack of textbooks hampers students
education. The focus of this report was only on the Department of Business. Based on the
information gathered, it was discovered that the main reason why students lack textbooks is
because they are too expensive and because students lack textbooks, they are unable to study for
tests and examinations.
The Almighty God is firstly to be thanked for giving is the ability to successfully complete this
project. We are also grateful to the staff at the Antigua State College Library that assisted in the
printing of the questionnaires when problems were encountered. Finally, great appreciation is
extended to the students who willingly completed our questionnaires.
We hope that the report will be useful in bringing awareness to this serious problem and in
providing a solution to alleviate the current textbook deficiency.

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Table of Contents
List of Illustrations..iv
Summary.ix
Introduction..1
Findings...2
Conclusions..........4
Recommendations....5
References6
Appendices...7

iii

List of Illustrations
Amount of Students

10
8
6
4
2
0
4

Courses Being Taken

Figure 1 Number of Courses Being Taken

Amount of Students

12
10
8
6
4
2
0
4

Textbooks Required

Figure 2 Number of Textbooks Required by Courses

iv

Amount of Students

6
5
4
3
2
1
0
0

Textbooks Owned

Figure 3 Number of Textbooks Currently Owned

Amount of Students

7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Purchase
Purchase
from student
from
bookstore

Given by
student

Online

Photocopy

Textbook Sources

Figure 4 Method of Textbook Acquisition

14

Amount of Students

12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Hard Copy

Soft Copy

Photocopied/Photographed
Pages

Textbook Format

Figure 5 Form of Acquired Textbooks

9
8
Amount of Students

7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Too Expensive

Unavailable

Not Interested

Reason for Lack of Textbooks

Figure 6 Reason for Lack of Textbooks

vi

Amount of Students

7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Punishment

Inabillity to
Understand
Lectures

Inability to
Complete
Homework

Inability to
No
Study
Consequences

Consequences Faced

Figure 7 Consequences Faced by Students

Amount of Students

5
4
3
2
1
0
1

Extent of Education Hindrance

Figure 8 Extent to Which Education is Hindered

vii

12
Amount of Students

10
8
6
4
2
0
Students and Their
Parents

Teachers/Lecturers The Local Government

Persons Responsible to Ensure Textbook Availability

Figure 9 Persons Responsible to Ensure Students Have Textbooks

Amount of Students

12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Government
Provide
Textbooks

Teachers Do Not Parents and Lower Textbook

Depend on
Students Budget
Prices
Textbook
for Textbooks
Problem Solution Recommendations

Figure 10 Recommendations to Fix Problem

viii

Summary
This report aims to determine to what extent students education is hindered as a result of a lack
of textbooks. The focus of this report is the lack of textbooks solely in the Department of
Business.
The report revealed that the main reason why students lack textbooks is because they are too
expensive to purchase or rent from other students and bookstores. It also showed that the main
consequence face by students as a result of the lack of textbooks is the inability to study for tests,
quizzes and examinations. Finally, it revealed that the majority of students believe that it is the
responsibility of the local government to provide students with the required textbooks.

ix