Aazan Manzoor
Srinagar: The Chairman JK Board of School Education on monday rebutted the minister for education over non availability of textbooks in the market, saying the board has successfully distributed textbooks worth crores.
In an exclusive interview with news agency JKNS, chairman JKBOSE Prof. Parikshat Singh Manhas said the distribution of textbooks was already in process.
The statement from JKBOSE Chairman comes a few days after education minister Sakina Masood Itoo acknowledged the dearth of textbooks saying that the students will receive textbooks by the end of winter vacation.
The Director School Education Kashmir also said that textbooks were expected to be available by January 31 of 2025.
However, the JKBOSE chairman claimed that distribution of textbooks was going on smoothly.
He further dismissed allegations of shortage of textbooks.
“The board is always here to serve our children. Every day, loaded trucks carrying textbooks reach Srinagar. There is no shortage,” he said.
He said for the past one week, textbooks worth approximately Rs. 3 crore have been distributed, including Rs. 15 lakhs on a single day.
“If there are issues, let book sellers approach me, but I believe students have books in their hands,” he said.
He said that students from Class 1st to 8th get textbooks free of cost. “They need to show their Below Poverty Line (BPL) ration cards to avail this benefit,” he said.
Reacting to the complaints about the shortage of textbooks, JKBOSE chairman said: “I don’t know who says there is a shortage of books when I receive loaded trucks of textbooks every day.”
However, contrary to the claims of the JKBOSE Chairman, Parents and teachers are expressing frustration over the non availability of books.
JKNS correspondent tried to reach out to multiple school heads in Srinagar, Kulgam and Budgam. One of the teachers from Govt High School Kulgam said, “We haven’t received textbooks so far. However, we have been told to wait for another week.”
One of the parents from Budgam namely Mir Muzzafar told news agency JKNS that their children were sitting idle. “It is a vacation period, but they should have been given books, so that they will keep track of their studies. Unfortunately, books are not available,” he said.
A teacher from a primary school in Budgam said they have not received books from the Board. “Despite repeated requests, we are being told to wait. It seems textbooks will be available by the end of February when schools reopen post winter vacation,” a teacher said, wishing anonymity.
Another parent from Kulgam, Muneeb Nazeer, said the textbooks were not available anywhere.
“One month has passed and children must have books, so that they will study in a better way till schools reopen. But I do not understand why JKBOSE didn’t stock books earlier before exams,” he said. (JKNS)
