Opposition spokesman on education Damion Crawford has painted a grim picture of the availability of textbooks across the island, claiming only 30 per cent of high school students have access to some required texts.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday (September 4), Mr Crawford said there is an extreme scarcity of textbooks in classrooms.

He said the issue was first highlighted by the opposition in August last year.

Mr Crawford said many students sat examinations last year without having had access to the books they needed.

He said the government’s e-textbook program is not working as it should.

Mr Crawford suggested that the government makes arrangements with textbook publishers to access online versions that parents may opt to print.