San Juan Govt gets first-ever book vending machine

San Juan Government Primary became the first school in the country to be outfitted with a special vending machine that doesn’t dispense snacks or beverages. Instead, it’s stocked with books.

To promote and improve literacy among primary school children, Erica Jackman-Chavkin, a T&T national based in the United States donated the first-ever bookworm vending machine launched under the Education Ministry’s Adopt-a-School programme.

The vending machine will operate on a reward-based system. Teachers will give students who demonstrate positive behaviours tokens that they can use to redeem books of their choice from the vending machine.

Minister in the Ministry of Education Lisa Morris-Julian encouraged the students to read as she shared that she is an avid reader.

Also addressing the pupils yesterday was Jackman-Chavkin who said: “I was a shy child in school and I was bullied in school. Also, I never liked public speaking and I was always in the background but I always liked education and literacy.

“My goal is for you kids to soar and reading is fundamental and it is for you to take this machine and run with it and be the best that you can be. Whatever you want to be in this world you can be. You just start by reading.”

In collaboration with the Education Ministry, Jackman-Chavkin and her husband plan to donate more book vending machines to schools across the country.