Govt schools yet to get textbooks, uniforms
Government teachers in the city are complaining that textbooks and uniforms have not been provided to students even as the academic year begins from June 13.
“Books are distributed to students by May 15 every year or at least by May end. This year, no such notification has been issued so far,” they said.
The teachers also said no proper measurement was taken yet of students for the school uniforms. Instead, the decision is to have these distributed in bulk. The quality of the uniform continues to remain poor and this needs to be upgraded, government teachers said.
Also, even as English medium is introduced in all government schools from the coming academic year, the bilingual textbooks are still being printed and these are to be distributed by midJune in a few districts.
These will reach the entire state by June end, said S. Srinivasachary, director, textbooks, RESS.
“The cost quoted to the department for printing of textbooks was way higher this time and hence we had to re-tender it,” resulting in the delay in the distribution of books, he said.
“Last year, they quoted nearly `60,000 for the printing of textbooks.
This year, initially they demanded `97,000 for this. We sent a proposal to the government regarding the cost escalation. Finally the cost was fixed at `95,000. This is the actual cost of printing textbooks this year,” he explained.
By June end, all the districts will probably get all the textbooks,” he said.
United Teachers Federation (TSUTF) president A Syamsunder said uniforms are distributed to students in August and September, too late. The quality of the cloth is poor every year, he said.
“So, the students cannot wear a uniform throughout the year. They tear easily and they are stitched by imagined measurements. Better quality clothes and proper measurements for each
student are a must. Bulk supply with same measurement will not be good,” he said.
A government school headmaster said if there is a discipline from the beginning of the academic year, students would want to follow it throughout the year. "Uniforms and books are the basics. They must be provided before the classes start. Students will be enthused to wear new uniforms and study new books. But that is not happening," she stated.
Veera Chari, a government teacher and president of the government teachers’ association said uniforms matter as much as books. Basic facilities like drinking water, midday meals and separate toilets for girls and boys also are a must.
“What is the point of Mana Ooru Mana Badi? New uniforms and books are given when students do not want to come to school because of dirty toilets, lack of electricity and lack of provision for drinking water. They also want to be seated properly on good benches. All these things are yet to be taken care of,” he said.
Education officials say over 9,000 schools are selected in the first phase of the Mana Ooru Mana Badi programme. Under this, the schools are to be revamped and basic facilities like water, clean toilets, benches, electricity etc are provided.
However, as per sources, the process has hardly begun in a majority of the government schools. Only the foundation stones have been laid.