Textbook worries to be over this month: Board

Textbook worries to be over this month: Board
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
PORVORIM, JUNE 15
The academic year may have commenced on June 7, but students studying from Std I to XII will get all their textbooks only by June-end.
Textbooks for Std IX to XII are being supplied by Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, however, it is the responsibility of State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) to provide textbooks to students from Std I to VIII.
This year, there was delay on the part of Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education in issuing contract to the printers due to lengthy administrative procedure, due to which students could not get the textbooks at the beginning of academic year.
Speaking to Herald, Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Chairman Mervyn D’Souza said they have received 75 of the 114 titles.
“Every day, we receive two truckloads of books from Delhi and the balance 39 titles will reach us by June end,” said D’Souza.
“Usually, orders are placed with the printers for supply of textbooks in January or February. However this year, the negotiations with the printer prolonged for a longer time than expected as the consensus on certain terms could not be reached. Hence, there was a delay in issuing the contract to the printer for supply of books,” informed D’Souza.
With regard to supply of textbooks to students from Std I to VIII, SCERT Director Nagaraj G Honnekeri stated that 55% of the 85 titles have been received.
“We have handed the books to the respective area educational authorities. The balance titles will reach by June end. As per the contract entered with the printer, we were supposed to supply the books by May 31, 2010. There is a delay on their part to supply the books,” said Honnekeri.
“However, there is no need for students to panic. As these books are being supplied free of cost, the students can borrow these books from their senior students who have been promoted to the higher standard,” added Honnekeri.
Honnekeri further said for the last three years, printing of books of Std I to XII was being looked after by Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education.
“From this year onwards, the Government has entrusted the task of printing books of Std I to VIII to SCERT. Next year, SCERT will ensure that the books are made available to students on time,” assured Honnekeri.
When asked about objections raised by Hindu Jagruti Samiti in regard to certain chapters in the History book, Honnekeri said no chapter can be deleted from the books of NCERT.
“If required, additions can be made in those books. SCERT has added the chapter of Goan History in the book prescribed for Std VII,” said Honnekeri.