Students turn to their seniors for textbooks

TIRUPATI: In Chittoor district, the chief minister’s native place, it has become normal for teachers to begin each class by asking students whether they have got their textbooks yet. Not everyone answers yes. There are many nos.Supply snags in textbook supply are an annual affair in this district. Officials say it will take another three or four weeks for all students to get all their textbooks.The shortage adds up to a considerable number here: 6.66 lakh textbooks are still needed. Faced with an order for 25.84 lakh books for this academic year, the government textbooks sales (GTBS) office in Tirupati has received 19,62,582 books. The remaining books are expected to arrive by July 15. Teachers would be into their third lesson by then.According to GTBS office manager Syed Hussain, Chittoor district had old stocks of 2,93,085 books and the DEO put in a fresh indent for 25,84,657 more this year. “We received 19,62,582 books so far. Still 6,22,075 books are needed. So far we have sent out 18,57,685 books to mandal resource persons and schools,’’ he said.While government schools are the hit by the textbook shortage, private schools are not much affected. However, with a change of syllabus in the offing for class 8 and 9 in the academic year 2012-13, private book sellers are limiting procurement of textbooks in order to avoid maintaining a high inventory. This has limited the options for parents with children in government schools. Even private book sellers are not having much stock.Government schools report that they have so far received hardly 60 per cent of their requirement. With lessons picking up pace, school staff are begging students of higher classes to donate their books of last year, according to S Krishna Reddy, headmaster of the Sri Kodandaramaswamy High School.When it comes to Intermediate textbooks, there is no shortage. Telugu Akademi regional centre in-charge RV Ramana says that they have adequate stocks of text books in both English and Telugu medium.