Reshma Ravishanker
Just three days to go before the commencement of the new academic year, state board schools across Karnataka still have no textbooks, leaving teachers with nothing to prepare.
Schools in the state are set to commence in person classes starting May 16 for the new academic year. This year the state government is also introducing changes in Social Science and Kannada textbooks for classes 1-10 and Hindi for classes 6-10. As a result, teachers would be unable to use the previous year’s textbooks for reference either.
Venkatesh K, principal, Ashwini Public School said that there has been a delay in supply of textbooks. “The previous year itself, we had placed orders for some additional textbooks. The changes to new textbooks were not known before. Also, the number of admissions from previous year is not as much. This left us with too many textbooks,” he said.
He said that the school has been asked to place the order just days ago and that teachers have been asked to wait. “We are told that chapter-wise, the textbook will be released online and until hard copies are available, that is what is to be referred to. It will be challenging for teachers and students,” he rued.
Some schools believe that an ongoing tussle between the printers and Karnataka Textbooks Society has resulted in a delay. Gnanamurthy, principal, Nandini Public School said, “They have said the issue will start 16th onwards. We paid the advance at least four months in advance. We are also helpless if the supply is delayed. The government has the authority and we have little say. Only once the supply starts can commence teaching students and male up for the learning loss. Every year there is a delay. Teachers are finding it challenging,” he said.
Also read: Karnataka: Conduct survey to determine number of out-of-school children, demand activists
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