Change in academic session delayed distribution of textbooks: DSEK

Posted by admin_kas on 2025-03-08 18:28:24 |

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Muhammad Adnan 

Srinagar March 8: The Director School Education Kashmir G N Itoo on Saturday said that the change in academic session caused a delay in the distribution of textbooks to the schools across Kashmir.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of an event organised at a private school in Srinagar, G N Itoo said that 75 percent textbooks were already distributed by JK Board of School Education (BOSE) ahead of the reopening of the schools.

"Last time, on public demand, the academic session was restored to November. The decision was made in a time-bound manner and JKBOSE got less time to do the preparation for distribution of textbooks," Itoo said.

He said It took around two to four months for the JK Board to make preparations including the tendering process.

"JKBOSE has to purchase papers and other material. So, it took time to complete all the formalities," he said.

Itoo however said the education minister took the initiative and ensured that 75 percent of the books are available.

"Fortunately, we have followed a practice in the School Education Department. In December when exams were concluded, the textbooks of students were retained and around 40 percent of the books were made available in the schools by retaining previous years used books of students," G N Itoo said.

He said the department ensured that the winter tutorials were conducted with the same books which were retained from the students.

"By retrieving used textbooks, we did not face any problems in any school to run the winter tutorials," he said.

He further said on the first of school reopening, the officers toured almost all over Kashmir and. They were informed by the teachers and children that books were available.

"The Board also said that in 2-4 days, 100 percent supply of the textbooks will be available in schools," he said.

He said the transition of textbooks takes some time but they ensure that the day the books are available, they will be distributed in the schools.

On Friday, JKBOSE issued a statement and admitted that it has failed to supply 100 percent textbooks despite the commencement of class work in schools after over two-month long winter vacations.

The JKBOSE spokesperson said that nearly 72 percent textbooks were already received and distributed among the zonal education heads across the Kashmir Valley.

"Despite inclement weather over the last week, the Board has succeeded in the distribution of books 13.46 lakhs," the hand out reads.

The JKBOSE spokesperson said that remaining books numbering around 5.50 lakhs were in transit and will take another four to five days to reach the end- destination in Kashmir valley and winter zones of Jammu division.

JKBOSE in mid-February issued a schedule for the lifting of textbooks by the Zonal education officers of various districts.

As per the notification, the lifting of textbooks was scheduled from February 15 to 22 of 2025.

However, despite the reopening of the schools weeks after the scheduled dates for lifting of textbooks, the JKBOSE did not ensure 100 percent supply of textbooks in schools.