K-P govt fails to distribute free textbooks on time

PESHAWAR:

Although the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government claimed it distributed free textbooks worth Rs2,738 million among students of grade 1 to 12 across the province, so far only 53% books have been handed over. These were circulated in only 16 districts of K-P.

All books are meant to be given out to students before the new academic year starts in less than a month, so children do not miss out on studies.



Education department documents available with The Express Tribune state the K-P Textbook Board and Punjab government signed an agreement to provide the books by February 28. However, not all have been delivered, indicating many students at government schools are still sans course books.

Empty satchels?

An official of K-P Elementary and Secondary Education department, requesting anonymity, told The Express Tribune the new academic year will start from April 10. “The government should ensure books are provided to all schools by March 31 as by then the results would be announced and then schools would be closed for 10 days.”

The official added on the first day of school, books should be either with the students or already distributed among them so their time is not wasted. He added, “If only 53% books have been distributed so far, the remaining books would reach the province by April or May [and subsequently reach students late].”

Changing hands

The official said according to the new policy of the board, the contract of books printing has been given to Punjab-based publishers. He said they should have ensured the timely provision of books but failed to do so.

When contacted, an official of the K-P Textbook Board said the books will be supplied by April 4 to all the schools across the province.

He said previously local publishers would print books but those were also not received in time. This time, he added, they have given the printing contract to Punjab publishers through an open bidding process. The publishers would provide 50% of the books while the remaining would be printed by local publishers.



He maintained they will publish 500 million books for students of grades 1 to 12.

The official said the board warehouse did not have the capacity for 500 million volumes so they sent them in trucks as they were received.

He said many local publishers could not take part in the open bidding which is why they started propaganda against the board and were blaming them.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 24^th, 2016.