Pakistan

Textbook availability in ICT govt schools remains uncertain

The government still has to pay Rs80 million for books purchased from his employer, NBF official.

Our Correspondent November 24, 2013

For almost last five years now, textbooks have been provided to students well after summer vacations — three months after the start of academic session due to a host of ‘technical glitches’. PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD:

The National Book Foundation (NBF), the sole printer and distributor, might fail to deliver textbooks in time to students of ICT for the next academic year.

With bidding for the tender due to take place today (Monday), the NBF has written a letter to the Accountant General of Pakistan Revenue (AGPR) and the Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) secretary asking for exclusive rights to the printing and distribution of the books — something they were granted in 2010.

According to an NBF official, the government was inviting new bids despite still having to pay Rs80 million for books purchased from his employer.

The FDE and NBF held meetings in May following objections by the AGPR alleging the latter of not following Public Procurement Regulator Authority (PPRA) rules.

NBF was officially announced as the textbook provider for ICT schools in 2010 by the now defunct ministry of education. It has since been printing books under a PPRA rule that says proprietary items that are published repeatedly can be printed without a tender.

For almost last five years now, textbooks have been provided to students well after summer vacations — three months after the start of academic session due to a host of ‘technical glitches’.

CADD Joint Secretary Education Rafique Tahir said that in May, the AGPR pointed out irregularities and said that if the cost of books exceeded a certain amount, open bidding would have to be held.

Federal Government College Teaching Association President Tahir Mehmood lamented that government-run schools have never been taken seriously by bureaucrats whose children are studying in elite private schools and colleges. “Increasing the budget, provision of free education and waiver of fees are all mere words. The reality is that they cannot even ensure timely delivery of books.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 25^th, 2013.