Minister clarifies on delay in printing textbooks
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, March 01 2024:
Stating that late arrival of printing materials caused delay in making textbooks available to the students in time, education minister Th Basantakumar has informed the assembly that the Board of Secondary Education Manipur (BSEM) has been instructed to make available all textbooks to the students by March 15.Responding to a calling attention motion raised by BJP MLA Kh Joykisan in Friday's sitting of the on-going assembly session, the minister clarified that the BSEM oversees printing and supply of textbooks, which are provided free of cost to students from class 1 to 8 in government, aided and ADC schools.
Pointing out that BSEM prints around 8 lakh copies of textbooks, the minister said report has been received from the BSEM chairman citing existing law and order problem for belated delivery of printing papers, inks and plates consequently causing delay in printing the textbooks.
Basantakumar stated that the BSEM has been advised to make available all textbooks by March 15.On the other hand, the minister said the government mandated colour uniforms for the students to effect positive changes in the education sector while assuring adequate quantity of uniforms for the students.
Confiding that the education section is facing absence of infrastructure and shortage of teachers, he, however, informed that construction of classrooms is underway with funding from the Project Approval Board (PAB) of the Ministry of education for those schools approved by the PAB.
As the state's budget for education in a calendar year is only Rs 1 crore, dispersal of the said amount among the 4000 schools is a difficult task, he maintained, adding that efforts are on to get the PAB approval.
The minister also disclosed about possibility of receiving record allocation this year with an increase of Rs 100 crore from the previous allocation of Rs 500 crore.
Accordingly, all the infrastructural developmental works will be taken up in the government schools.
Earlier, Joykisan pointed out that according to the policy of the education ministry, all students from class 1 to 8 should be provided free textbooks, school uniforms and mid-day meals.
However, it has been reported that despite academic sessions starting from February 12, textbooks have not been issued to the students.
On enquiry, it came to light that some schools have received the textbooks while the same is pending for others.
The MLA also pointed out that the Thangmeiband Gurukul School has no classrooms despite representations submitted and meetings held with the chief minister, minister concerned and director while urging authority concerned to look into the matter on priority basis considering the pitiable condition of the school.
Furthermore, Joykisan pointed out that around 40 percent of the uniforms supplied by the government to the students do not fit right and suggested that the supplier, in coordination with the school authority take proper measurement before supplying the uniforms.