CHANDIGARH: The income of the
Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) was reduced to half, courtesy delay in distribution of textbooks it prints. The revenue come down to Rs 8 crore from Rs 16 crore earned last year.
PSEB is responsible for getting books of all subjects printed and distributed among the students studying in the government and its affiliated schools. The board provide free books to students of Classes VI to X of government schools, while the affiliated schools have to pay for them.
The board got a survey conducted in a total of 159 schools, both government and affiliated, in four districts — Ropar, Ludhiana, Patiala and Moga. Due to delay in delivery of books, it was found that about 50 percent of the students were using old books. In many affiliated schools it was found that PSEB textbooks were not being used from Class I to V.
PSEB chairman Manohar Kant Kalohia said, “Besides delay in distribution of books, the sale came down due to reduction in book seller’s commission from 15% to 10%. In addition, the number of book depots was also reduced from 21 to 10.”
Kalohia shared that the board had again increased the commission to 15% and to ensure wider coverage, five more depots had been started.
For ensuring timely delivery of books in the next academic session, the board had started the process of ascertaining the demand and getting the books printed accordingly. “We are confident of completing the process by year end and textbooks will be available before the start on next academic session,” said Kalohia. The board is also coming up with an online system enabling schools to place order for the text books online, which is expected to be operational before start of the next academic session.
In recent years, delay in distribution of books has become a norm. During the ongoing academic session, there was a delay in distribution of books of different subject, including English grammar book of Class X, Punjabi novel for Classes IX and X, Physical Education book of Class VIII and Mathematics book for Class VII.
The books were not distributed in many government schools till first week of June. Taking serious note of delay, education department secretary had pulled up the officials during a meeting held in first week of June and had issued direction to ensure that schools got textbooks by June 16. In the last academic session, a large number of schools were without books till December.
Picture used for representational purpose only
