New academic year: Delay in supply of textbooks, a challenge for students and teachers

Publishers refuse to print books till dues are cleared.

ISLAMABAD:

Students in 397 schools and colleges in the capital come to school every day, but instead of attending regular classes, they hold discussions with their teachers. Not because of an upgrade in pedagogy, but because four weeks after the start of the academic year, they are still without textbooks.

Teachers are at their wits’ end due to the unavailability of textbooks, the provision of which is the responsibility of the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE).

“We cannot teach without books,” said Yasser Chatha, a teacher at Islamabad Model College for Boys Sector I-8/3. “How come only public sector institutions face these problems?”

Students of grades six, seven and eight have yet to receive their English (prose), English (selected poems), Arabic and General Science, Social Studies and Mathematics textbooks, while students of ninth and 10th grades are without books.

Students of grades one, two and three and preparatory classes are still waiting for English, Social Studies and Mathematics textbooks.

According to documents available with The Express Tribune, National Book Foundation (NBF) supplied books costing over Rs94 million to FDE for the academic year 2013.

The NBF requested FDE several times to clear the bills. Because of outstanding payments, publishers have refused to print books. They have yet to receive over Rs55 million for textbooks for the last academic year.

Earlier this month NBF told FDE director general that “it would be unable to supply books in time unless payment is received in time from FDE,” said NBF Secretary Aftab Soomro.

Soomro stated that in March Capital Administration and Development Joint Secretary Educational Adviser Rafiq Tahir had assured NBF that payments would be made within one week but they have yet to receive a single penny.

“Now NBF can neither get its textbooks printed nor can it procure them from other publishers for want of funds.”

Model colleges’ Central Academic Staff Association (CASA) President Muhammad Rashid Khan from Islamabad College for Boys G-6/3 said this phenomenon is nothing new as some textbooks were received just before last year’s summer vacations in June.

Farzana Akram, a CASA member demanded that textbooks be supplied immediately to colleges to resolve the issue.

“Books should be ordered every year well before time so that they arrive before the academic session in the last week of March. Education is a right, like the right to food, clothing and shelter.”

FDE Administration Director Muhammad Shahid Khan said the delay had been caused by the Accountant General of Pakistan Revenue who has yet to approve the bills. “We do not know the reason for the delay but we are constantly following up on the bills because our children’s future is at stake,” Khan remarked.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 30^th, 2013.