School board awaits EC nod to distribute books
TNN | Updated: Apr 4, 2019, 07:41 IST
Representative imageCHANDIGARH: Punjab School Education Board has written to the Election Commission, seeking permission for distribution of free text books to students of government schools. The board has got printed 1.10 crore textbooks for all subjects. Out of these, 65 lakh books have been delivered to regional depots in Amritsar, Bathinda, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Mohali, Moga, Pathankot, Patiala, Rupnagar, Patiala and SBS Nagar.
Punjab school board chairman Manohar Kant Khlohiya said they have written to the poll panel for permission to start distribution of textbooks to students. “School admissions are going on and we are hopeful of getting permission from the EC in a couple of days,” said Khlohiya.
There are over 23 lakh children studying in around 24,000 government schools in Punjab.
Khlohiya said that despite financial constraints, they had used environment-friendly paper in the textbooks. For the last two years, the board had been using chemically-treated recycled papers in textbooks. The new textbooks have been printed on maplitho virgin pulp paper.
In the last few years, book distribution was marred by delays. In the last academic session, books were not available in many schools till the first week of June. In the 2017-18 academic session, a large number of schools were without books till December.
Slammed for the delays, the board took corrective steps to ensure that books are published and delivered in time in 2019-20 academic session. It also set up a high-level cell to monitor printing and supply of textbooks. To ensure smooth delivery, it directed the staff involved in the process of distribution of books to work without break till April 15.
Punjab school board chairman Manohar Kant Khlohiya said they have written to the poll panel for permission to start distribution of textbooks to students. “School admissions are going on and we are hopeful of getting permission from the EC in a couple of days,” said Khlohiya.
There are over 23 lakh children studying in around 24,000 government schools in Punjab.
Khlohiya said that despite financial constraints, they had used environment-friendly paper in the textbooks. For the last two years, the board had been using chemically-treated recycled papers in textbooks. The new textbooks have been printed on maplitho virgin pulp paper.
In the last few years, book distribution was marred by delays. In the last academic session, books were not available in many schools till the first week of June. In the 2017-18 academic session, a large number of schools were without books till December.
Slammed for the delays, the board took corrective steps to ensure that books are published and delivered in time in 2019-20 academic session. It also set up a high-level cell to monitor printing and supply of textbooks. To ensure smooth delivery, it directed the staff involved in the process of distribution of books to work without break till April 15.
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