KPK govt fails in distributing free textbooks timely

Peshawar: Although the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa claimed it distributed free textbooks of worth Rs2, 738 million between the aspirants of class 1 to 12 crosswise the province, until now just 53 percent books have been handed over. These books were circulated in just 16 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

All the books are meant to be given out to the aspirants before the latest academic year begins in less than a month, so that the children do not miss out the studies.

The documents by education department state that the K-P Textbook Board and Punjab government signed an agreement to deliver the books before 28^th February. However, not all the books have been delivered, indicating that a lot of aspirants at government schools are still without course books.

A representative of KPK Elementary and Secondary Education department, requesting privately, told that the new academic year will begin from 10^th April 2016. “The government should certify books are provided to all schools before March 31st as by then the results will be announced and after that all the schools will be closed for 10 days.”

The official moreover said that on the first day of school, books should be either along with the aspirants or already distributed between them so their time is not wasted. “If just 53 percent books have been distributed up to now, the remaining books will reach the province before April or May.”

While talking to media he said as per the new policy of the board, the contract of books printing has been given to the Punjab-based publishers. He said they should have ensured the provision of books in time however, they failed to do so.

When contacted, an official of the K-P Textbook Board said that the books will be provided before 4^th of April to all the schools in Kyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Earlier the local publishers would print books however those were also not received in time, he added. He said, this time, they have given the printing contract to the Punjab publishers by an open bidding procedure. The publishers will deliver 50 percent of the books whereas the remaining books will be printed by local publishers.

He moreover said that they will print 500 million books for the aspirants of class 1 to 12.

The spokesperson said the board store did not have the capacity for 500 million volumes so that they sent them in trucks as they were received.

He said large number of local publishers cannot take part in the open command which is why they started buildup against the board and were blaming them.