Govt’s free textbooks promise falls flat
Over sixty per cent of new students admitted to grades 1-10 in government schools have not received textbooks that the education department had to provide them for free under a government programme. The programme is for the academic year that started in April-May but the students haven’t received textbooks even after the start of summer vacations.
To add insult to injury, the textbooks that made it to government schools are replete with printing errors, with entire pages and chapters blank. There are multiple pages across books on which the text isn’t legible due to printing.
Moreover, the books will be distributed among the children once they return to school after the summer vacation. In one myopic measure to cut costs, the textbooks of three subjects have been clubbed together to make it one textbook. The book experiences more wear and tear with the cover page getting torn in most instances, said one educator.
The same books are available separately at bookstores and markets.
There are no printing errors in any of the textbooks offered for sale in the market.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 16th, 2023.