Myanglung: A team deployed by the Ministry of Education to supervise the process of distribution and measuring the quality of books in schools in Terathum district today concluded that the books are of sub-standard quality.

Deputy Secretary Nawaraj Khatiwada, from the Ministry of Education, said the paper quality, print, binding and the cover of books of Grade I to Grade VIII are of sub-standard quality. The books are being published by private publications.

According to the Academic Change Institution, which has the authority to supervise the books throughout the country, students have been facing difficulty to get secondary

level text books of optional subjects like Economics, Education, Health and Physical Education.

Prof Arbindalal Kurmi of the Academic Change Institution said “It is difficult to find books for compulsory as well as optional subjects. Students somehow got some of the text books only in mid-July.”

The Ministry of Education team had supervised three schools – Saraswati Secondary School Tamfula, Adarsha Primary Myalung and Panchakanya Primary Dandakharka in different areas of the district.

Following the supervision of the schools, the team held an interaction session with the stakeholders on ‘the process and reforms of books printing and distribution’ at the District Education Office. The team briefed the participants about the unavailability and sub-standard quality of books at different levels.

At the programme, Basu Dev Dahal, district secretary of the Nepal Teachers Union alleged the schools have misused the money allocated in the name of books by distributing old books among the students. “It has developed as a bad culture in the schools,” he added.

According to the District Education Office, the fund is released to the schools to the tune of Rs 135-450 per student depending on the strength of the class.

The Federation of Books and Stationary Entrepreneurs district chairman Rajiv Dhungana said the Janak Education Materials Centre could not print the books on time. As a result of which they could not able to provide the books to the schools. He assured that action would be taken against the private publications if they are found to be compromising on the quality.

The books distributors, teachers’ association and union, private schools, school management committee and mediapersons participated in the programme. District Education Officer Mahendra Shakya said there should be a good coordination between the distributors and schools.

source:The Himalayan Times,11 Dec 2012