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FRUSTRATION OF PARENTS
* A parent questions, how is the child supposed to learn and understand the subject without a textbook
* A grievance posted on social media lambasts the authorities for 'punishment in name of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan'
* A parent complains that the students are yet to receive Mathematics and History textbooks
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SLUGGISH STATE COUNCIL
* Has managed to distribute textbooks to 49 per cent of the students from standards V to VIII
* Far better when it comes to classes from I to IV: 92 per cent of the students receive books
* Blame for delay put on Ganesh Printers, Kolhapur which has the contract to print textbooks
* Order for textbooks placed in March. Printers told to supply textbooks by May-end
* Technical issues creep in. Printer fails to supply books by June 6, seeks one week's time
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ADEI's CLAIM: All textbooks received
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It's precisely a month since schools across the State reopened after the summer vacation for commencement of the academic year 2016-17, but a large section of students seem to be in a state of perplexity; blame it on non-receipt of some of the textbooks.
A parent from Bicholim whose son is studying in standard V stated that the mathematics text book was yet to be provided. “How is the child supposed to learn and understand the subject without a textbook,” questioned the parent, who did not want to be named.
Complaining about textbooks not being provided, an agitated parent Vikas Mahale posted his grievance on a social media site.
“Text books of all subjects not given to students till now... even after the completion of almost a month.. in the name Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan .... should we read shiksha as punishment? Weren’t they aware of the time and the number of text books required, well before?” read the post.
When contacted on Tuesday, he said his son was given all the textbooks on Tuesday except History“I.
An official at the Sanguem ADEI office claimed that all the textbooks of all titles have been received. However, a parent complained that the students are yet to receive Mathematics and History textbooks.
The State Council for Education Research and Training (SCERT), has managed to distribute only 49 per cent of the books to students of standards V to VIII, though it has provided books to 92 per cent of the students from classes I to IV.
In all, the SCERT had ordered for 3,47,100 text books of 31 titles for students of standards I to IV and 7,72,500 textbooks of 47 titles. Additionally, the existing stock pending from last year of 79,065 and 72,592 has already been distributed to four talukas of Salcete, Ponda, Bardez and Tiswadi.
Speaking to The Goan, SCERT Director Nagraj Honnekeri informed that the delay has been on the part of Ganesh Printers, Kolhapur which has been given the contract to print the textbooks.
“We had intimated him about the printing work in December 2015. However, the actual order was placed in March and he was told to supply all the textbooks by May-end which was further extended up to the beginning of the academic year on June 6,” said Honnekeri.
“But due to some technical issues he has failed to supply it. His commitment is another one week,” he informed.
