SED yet to distribute textbooks to schools

Srinagar, Apr 5: The School Education Department (SED) has come under heavy criticism over delays in the distribution of textbooks to schools across the Valley.
The department is yet to distribute the textbooks to schools despite the commencement of the new academic session two weeks ago.
The delay in distribution of textbooks has left the parents and teachers worried about its impact on students’ learning.
The officials attribute the delay in distribution of textbooks to the change of academic session from November to March while the parents and the teachers in schools argue that the department had ample time to keep the supply of textbooks ready for distribution in schools.
“Earlier, the new session would start in November but now the session started in mid-March and the department got more than three months time to print the textbooks as per the demand in the schools,” said a school teacher wishing not to be named.
The parents have also expressed their displeasure over the delay in the distribution of the textbooks in the schools saying that the move will have a significant impact on students’ learning and will only exacerbate the existing educational inequalities in schools.
“The department needs to take urgent action to resolve this issue and ensure that students have access to the textbooks as early as possible,” said Muhammad Ishaq, a parent from Shopian.
Amid the criticism from all stakeholders, the JK Board of School Education (BOSE) recently notified the schedule for distribution of textbooks to education zones across Kashmir.
As per the schedule, the distribution started from May 5 and will be supplied to education zones of Kulgam and Shopian districts. As per the schedule, the textbooks will be distributed to education zones of Srinagar and Baramulla in April ending while the textbooks will be distributed to education zones of Kupwara and Anantnag district in the month of May.
“After the textbooks will be delivered to different zones of the districts. The books will be supplied to each cluster of the zones following which the textbooks will be supplied to schools and then distributed among students,” a school teacher said.
The teacher said that by following the schedule the students in most of the school will have access to the textbooks in June and when almost half of the session will be over.
“The students have been left at the receiving end as the department did not prioritize to ensure textbooks are supplied to schools on time,” the teacher said.
The Chief Education Officers (CEOs) put the blame on JKBOSE authorities saying that they submitted their requisition to the Board on time but the delay was in printing and supply done by the Board.
Meanwhile an official at JKBOSE admitted the delay in distribution of textbooks to schools saying that there were various factors responsible for it.
“There was a delay in procurement and also transportation of textbooks from Jammu to Srinagar takes time. But we will ensure that the textbooks are supplied to schools in the shortest possible time,” the official said.