The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Supply of some textbooks may be delayed

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 09, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Supply of some textbooks may be delayed

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, JUNE 8. Though schools will reopen on June 14, the process of printing and supplying textbooks for some subject titles to Government schools is yet to commence.

Though supply of available titles has begun, there is no clue as to when the remaining titles will be ready for distribution, say the AP United Teachers' Federation leaders. The demand for textbooks is huge with about 1.38-crore students studying in Government schools.

Federation representatives have claimed that for primary classes, the availability is somewhat better compared to that of upper primary and high school students. Telugu textbooks are not available for second, third and fourth classes. Mathematics textbook is also not available for third class while seventh class students have not yet been distributed mathematics, social studies and science books in a majority of the areas, they say.

The Government supplies textbooks free of cost to students of Government primary schools, to some categories up to eighth class and to girl students up to 10th class.

The problem lies in the failure of the Government to arrange for supply of paper in time for commencement of printing, say APUTF leaders. The Government owes Rs.12 crores to a paper mill in Assam and when proper allocation has not been made for procuring paper, it will set off a chain reaction, delaying the printing process and supply of books inordinately, they argue.

The Federation leaders -- K. Jojayya and N. Naryana -- point out that by the time Government school students get all titles prescribed in the syllabus, almost half of the academic year would have gone by.

The APUTF has said that it has already taken the matter to the notice of the School Education Commissioner, Manmohan Singh, and also apprised the new Education Minister of the ground realities. "Hopefully, things will be set right in the meeting convened by the Minister on June 11," federation leaders say.

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