Shortage of textbooks hits students

Tirupati: The apathy and lack of coordination among the officials of the Board of Intermediate Education (BIE) left the students with no textbooks for this year. Even after two months of the commencement of the academic year, the board did not print textbooks for Intermediate students. Textbooks must be printed well in advance and supply to all the colleges according to the indents by the time the colleges are re-opened after summer vacation.

Highlights:

• Govt did not print textbooks as a change in syllabus is expected next academic year
• Oral instructions were given to colleges to collect textbooks from outgoing students and pass it on to new students
• College authorities reportedly told not to issue TCs if the students fail to return textbooks
• Prices of old textbooks skyrocket due to shortage
• After outcry from parents, officials are taking steps to print 50% of the total indent

Intermediate education occupies an important place in student’s career as it decides their future. Still, the government is continuing its indifferent attitude towards colleges, opined a lecturer of Government Junior College. He said private junior colleges are preparing the study material and selling to their students. Even though they too need the textbooks, they are somehow managing with the study material, he observed.

Instead of initiating the tender process and other formalities for publishing the textbooks, the authorities have issued oral instructions to the colleges to take back the textbooks from the outgoing students and give them to the new students. They were told not to issue the Transfer Certificate (TC) if any student refuse to return the books. Students at Intermediate level need the textbooks for future reference too, which help them in their entrance examinations for any course. “What can we do when they insisted my daughter who is now in senior Inter, to return the old books,” said a parent.

The problem would be even more severe in the case of science students, who have to write EAMCET, NEET, IIT and other entrance exams. Students were approaching the bookshops where old books are sold. Naturally, the prices of old books have skyrocketed. In view of these difficulties, many students were buying guides.Every year, new books are to be printed for more than 10 lakh students in the state. Students of government colleges will be given free textbooks.

The text books should be distributed freely to girl students of government colleges by TTD under ‘Ammavari Prasadam’ scheme. But, the TTD failed to provide books to them. The reason being said by the board authorities was that syllabus will be changed from next year. Saying this, a junior lecturer commented that, the printing of books is a continuous practice.

If syllabus changes next year, what students of this year have to do, he asked. Unconfirmed information reveals that, after much outcry over the issue, the government seems to have taken steps to print 50 per cent of the total indent now. Speaking to The Hans India, Chittoor District Vocational Educational Officer (DVEO) Vishwanath Naik said that, as the syllabus of every subject is changing from next year, the government might have taken a policy decision.

As far as the district is concerned, 60 to 70 per cent students were provided the books by adjusting from last year stock and the books collected from the outgoing students. To a question, he said that they did not exert pressure on students to return their old books. They were asked to return them only if they are willing. Even the books from the libraries were adjusted to the students, he added.

By V Pradeep Kumar