Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Books and Publications Society (KBPS) has decided to take steps to complete the distribution of the third volume of textbooks to schools by December.
This followed complaints that the distribution of the second volume of textbooks had been delayed in schools. As per the schedule, the distribution of the second volume should have been completed before October 1. However, the textbooks had not reached many schools even though it was a “minor delay” of one or two days.
KBPS chairman and managing director Tomin J. Thachankary denied there was a delay and told Deccan Chronicle that the books had reached schools before October 1.
However, many felt that there was a delay because, when schools reopened in the first half of September after the Onam holidays which came after the first term examinations, textbooks had not been received. That was seen as a delay, Mr Thachankary said.
The plan now was to complete the printing of the third volume of textbooks before December. However, the general education department has Rs 75 crore in arrears on bills for textbook printing. Even if the printing was completed before December, the books would be distributed only after the money was released, Mr Thachankary said.
The decision to print the textbooks in three volumes was taken to reduce the burden of children by decreasing the weight of school bags.
Before this decision, a total of 2.2 crore books had to be published in a single volume. Now, a total of 6.6 crore books had to be published in three volumes. It had definitely increased the burden, Mr Thachankary pointed out.
A total of 2,86,69,591 books were printed in the first volume, 2,47,20,262 in the second volume, and 75,01,475 will be printed in the third volume. However, following differences between KBPS and the general education department, this system had some hiccups during the distribution of the second volume.
Pro-CPI All Kerala School Teachers Union (AKSTU) General Secretary N Sreekumar most of the books had been distributed to textbook hubs with six or seven schools under them by Sunday and Monday. However, he admitted that there were complaints that textbooks had not reached some schools even on Wednesday. The distribution could be completed within two days, Mr Sreekumar said.
Pro-Congress Kerala Pradesh School Teachers Association (KPSTA) President P. Harigovindan said that there has been an inordinate delay in the distribution of the second volume of UP and LP school textbooks in most schools. Though, things were better for high schools, the distribution was not completed, Mr Harigovindan added.
Earlier, KBPS had put in place a well-knit mechanism for the distribution of the first volume of textbooks which was completely distributed before the academic year began in June. However, as per reports, this could not be replicated during the distribution of the second volume.
A special software named textbook monitoring distribution system was developed to monitor printing and distribution. Instead of the earlier practice of handing over books to district-level depots, this year, the books were directly supplied to the societies in schools.
The printing was done exclusively by KPBS which was trusted with the purchase of printing paper. A team consisting of two ADPIs, joint director and textbook officer were asked to supervise at the state-level and a team that included a superintendent and two clerks at the district level. The printing of the first volume started in October last year, two months earlier than the regular date.
