With the government deciding to reopen schools from September, students are unable to find coursebooks printed by the Punjab Textbook Board (PTB) in Rawalpindi’s markets.
Lack of textbooks is also hampering their online studies.
The new academic session for schools in Punjab usually starts in April, and the PTB usually prints and distributes books by then, so that students can start their new course on time.
However, with the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic disrupting the school year, the PTB too has been unable to provide books in time, leaving students and their parents scouring second-hand bookshops for textbooks.
Mohammad Farooq, a customer at the city’s main books and stationery market, said that the PTB books are usually available in February. But this year, many schoolbooks are still not available even though July has begun.
Pakistani university puts textbooks on its website
He added searching shops in the extreme heat amidst the lockdown protocols was quite difficult for parents.
Muhammad Javed, a bookshop owner at the Urdu Bazaar, said they have yet to receive books which they had ordered in December.
Numerous textbooks for grades one to ten are not available in markets across the city, he said.
Another bookseller, Nasir, said that students and their parents continue to face difficulty in finding PTB textbooks for subjects such as Islamic Studies, Pakistan Studies, Mathematics, Urdu and Science.
Textbook sellers said that the main reason for the shortage of books was that the city has not received any fresh supplies from Lahore.
No amendments made in textbooks
A few books were brought in, they said, but these sold out quickly.
Due to non-availability of textbooks, most vendors have started selling what few books they have at Rs30 to Rs50 over the original price.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 11th, 2020.
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