3 months into the academic session, no textbooks for Bijnor schoolkids

An empty charade is being played out in the name of free education for children studying in government primary and higher primary schools in the district. It is 3 months since the current academic session has begun and students are yet to receive their textbooks from the state government. There are 2,556 primary and higher primary schools with nearly 2.50 lakh students in the district.

The Right to Education Act has a provision which mandates free books, education, uniforms and midday meal to all students between the ages of 6 and 14 of government primary and higher primary schools.

The present situation couldn’t be more ironic when viewed in light of the UP government's claims to provide education to students at par with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). In the absence of books, students go to schools only to while away their time and to take midday meals.

A teacher of Chandpura school, Rajendra Singh, he said, "New books have not been distributed among the students. We do give lessons to students but without books. However, we take notes from old books. We've informed higher authorities about the problem."

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Meanwhile, people in the know said books had been bought by the state authorities through tenders and the process was currently underway.

Meanwhile, discussing the issue, Basic Shiksha Adhikari, Sanjay Kushwah, said, "Books will be provided by the state government authorities. We've sent our requirement to the higher authorities. I hope the books will be provided soon."

Kushwaha further stated, "We've instructed all teachers of government primary and higher primary schools that they should collect old books from former students and use them till the new books are provided."

Images used for representational purposes only

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