Minnette Powell wants to ensure that her nine-year-old daughter gets the best education, but she needs the public's help.

Her daughter Fernanda Hines is a grade four student at Robin's Hall All-Age School in Manchester. She has been doing very well in school but her mother needs help to buy her books. Fernanda has been going through the school term without the required text books and this, according to her mother, has been holding her back.

Powell, who does domestic work, has two other children, both of whom are not working. She told the STAR that her 20-year-old son did not make use of his opportunity to attend the HEART TRUST and now depends on her. She also added that her daughter did not have a proper pair of school shoes or a school bag. Fernanda has also been forced to wear the same set of uniforms she has been wearing since she was in grade one.

Powell told the STAR, "She haffi deh go school without di book dem. Mi did a try fi arrange something but cause mi did get some material fi build a house from Food for the Poor, mi did haffi use di money fi pay some man fi move di tings dem. Mi jus want some help fi di books, di shoes and her bag."

Being a single parent has also made it harder for Powell who said, "It really hard on me, she nuh have any father. Mi nuh know if im living or dead. An she have good brain ennuh, mi jus want her fi come out well. Mi want her fi be better than me and whe mi nuh get, mi a try mi best fi mek sure seh she get it."

She says her daughter needs all the books that are on her book list and added that the teacher threatened to punish her if she did not get them soon. She is asking persons that are willing to help with the books, whether to buy them or to give her some they no longer need, to call her at 419 - 1393.