Non-arrival of school textbooks

 

It is now more than a month  since all the schools in the state have been re-opened but the text books for the govt. schools children is yet to reach and to be distributed .It might be due to various problems ,either official or technical in the delay of the books which is hampering the progress of these educational institutions.

Everyday the teacher and students comes to school takes the roll-call and the class gets over. Many schools are said to have given holidays as it heard that the books will be arriving only in the month of March. With the introduction of the Continuous Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) system, workloads as well as the burden of both the teacher and the taught has increased tremendously. By the Right To Education (RTE )Act every schools are ensured to have at-least 180- 220 working days depending upon the sections. Four quarterly tests have to be conducted  besides numerous re-tests in-case a student cannot secure the required marks in a particular subject or is absent on the day of the  test.

The teachers are said to be apprehensive that even if they start taking lessons from the old text books if the syllabus and books are changed completely it would be a waste of time. Whatever maybe the reason(s), the concerned department(s) owes a moral responsibility and an explanation in this fiasco. This is also not the first time such delays have been experienced .I am sure some people working in the School Education Directorate ,NBSE,SCERT can throw some light of these delays every year .Also the changing of the text books every year has become a regular affair which makes it not only for the students but the teachers as well to have a proper grasp on their particular subjects though keeping in mind about adapting to the latest textbooks to suit with the changing times.

Many a times also, it has been noticed that either just a chapter is added or deleted and some slight edition done, so it should not be a reason to delay. If the books are to be changed, isn’t it the responsibility of  the concerned departments to make proper provisions that they reach before the academic session starts or at-least by January last or February first week? The NSF,ENSF and other NGOs should also look into this matter with seriousness.

With the Lok Sabha elections round the corner there will be a notification shortly informing the teachers for the electoral trainings and election duties , so another month that should be running on full swing is likely to be  adjourned and the school children’s academic session affected. Are we denying the very essence of the Right to Education Act (RTE) to these lesser privileged children of the Govt. schools ? Hoping that the school text books will arrive at the earliest possible time without any delay.