With the failure of the Janak Sikshya Samagri Kendra (JSSK) to deliver text book s to school-going students, the government’s plan to enroll students with book s in hand has come to naught.

JSSK, the sole authority for publishing book s for the Central, Mid-Western and Far-Western Development Regions, was tasked to meet publishing targets by mid-April but has yet to publish over four million book s, repeating the perennial problem of text book s crises in community schools across the country. JSSK’s failure has now caused millions of students from grades one to ten to attend classes this new academic session, which began two weeks ago on April 15, without text book s. The Ministry of Education had earlier declared that it would make book s available to each student on the very first day of the academic session.

JSSK had set a target of 19.5 million book units this year but increased it to 22 million after a request for 24.4 million units from the Department of Education. More than six months since printing started, only 12 million units, including the 1.7 million in stock, have been provided to Sajha Publications for distribution, while around six million are ready for shipment.

Considering the delayed circulation of text book s, the students from public schools will have to study for at least another couple of months without book s. “We have directed JSSK to complete the printing by this month [Baisakh],” said Roj Nath Pandey, assistant spokesperson at the Ministry of Education. JSSK has also been asked to furnish written clarification about the delay, said Pandey. As four million book units have yet to be readied, JSSK will need at least a month to meet targets if printing continues at the current pace. If all presses are run at optimum for 24 hours, JSSK can print around 124,000 text book s a day.

However, Anil Kumar Jha, JSSK director general, blamed a lack of funds for the delay. “JSSK was bankrupt when I joined the office four months ago. There was no money even to pay staff salaries and buy printing papers,” Jha said. “I commit to complete printing by mid-May and every student will get their book s by the end of the month.”

According to Pandey, the Ministry has sought a work plan from JSSK for next year so that this perpetual problem will not recur. “We will seek alternatives if their plan is not convincing,” said Pandey.

Ever since the government decided to provide free text book s to all school-level students six years ago, JSSK has not

been able to provide text book s on time even once.

The government has allocated Rs 1.61 billion for the free distribution of book s to 6.53 million school children at some 32,000 public schools across the country.

source: the kathmandu post,2 may 2013