HYDERABAD: Just two weeks are left for reopening of schools but the district education department has not yet taken steps for distribution of textbooks in Hyderabad.
There are 805 government schools and more than 1,000 private schools which follow the State syllabus in Hyderabad district, which means at least 12 lakhs textbooks are required.
About 10 lakhs textbooks have already been allotted to Hyderabad district but officials have not taken steps to transport them to mandals from where headmasters have to collect them. The textbooks allotted to the district are now stored at a godown in Ramanthapur.
The department officials had called tenders for transportation of textbooks and the tenders were to be finalised last Monday. But the tender box went missing and till now, no action has been taken in this regard.
In case of textbooks for private schools, the department officials have not even made an estimate of the number of books required. ‘’We have given orders for all private schools in Hyderabad district to compulsorily follow state syllabus from this academic year. To make sure that textbooks are available, we have called for indents from all mandals. Once we receive indents, we will know how many books are needed. Then, we can place an order and procure them,’’ said an official.
Against this backdrop, it is highly unlikely that textbooks will be available to students by the time the schools reopen.