Textbooks missing at govt schools

Despite the passage of 20 days since the start of the new academic session, the provision of free books to government schools across the province, including Hyderabad, has been unsuccessful. As a result, educational activities in government schools have yet to commence.

Students at government school have to pay no fee, get free textbooks, and at times even bags and uniforms in addition to monthly stipend of Rs300 for girls. The distribution of free textbooks is an annual exercise marred by red tape.

The Sindh Textbook Board (STBB), Jamshoro, officials claim they have delivered the books at the warehoused of the Sindh Education and Literacy Department for free distribution among government school children, but the education department officials say their warehouses were empty and STBB has yet to deliver the books.

In this political wrangling at the juncture of the change of the government, the only victim is the students who are losing precious time every day. Students are attending schools daily, they are returning home without receiving proper education due to the lack of textbooks. In response to the non-provision of books, the Secretary of Education has maintained a secretive silence. However, students and their parents in various districts, including Hyderabad, have initiated protests at the provincial level against the absence of book provision.

Government Secondary Teachers Association (GSTA) Deputy President Ghulam Mustafa said that the valuable year of education for underprivileged children is being wasted.

According to Education Department sources, STBB has only provided up to 30% of the course books for Urdu and Sindhi medium schools so far, which are also incomplete. However, English medium government schools have not received a single book.

In response to the non-provision of textbooks, students, along with their parents, protested in the entire Hyderabad region based on the appeal of the GSTA. In various government schools, parents and students held protests while holding placards in their hands. Protesting parents mentioned that the academic year has started, but the Sindh government has still been unsuccessful in providing textbooks to schools, severely affecting the education of students.

Protesters have demanded immediate action against STBB and urgent steps to ensure the immediate provision of course books to students in government schools.

Hyderabad District Education Officer for Primary Schools Khalid Hussain Babar, while speaking to The Express Tribune mentioned that the insufficiently provided textbooks by the textbook board have been distributed.

It should be noted that STBB Chairman Agha Sahil Khan, in a press conference last month, claimed that, the printing process of books has been completed for June and July.

These books have been handed over to the Sindh Education Department, and it is the responsibility of the Education Department to provide these books to schools.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 22^nd, 2023.