New session, no books

Parents and students are in utter confusion as schools begin syllabus while books are still unavailable

New session, no books

Parents and students are in utter confusion as schools begin syllabus while books are still unavailable

Many schools in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) have started the new academic session on April 1, following board instructions. However, a grave problem has arisen. A number of books on the syllabus are still unavailable to students.

Parents are worried as the teachers have begun teaching the syllabus, even though students do not have access to text books

In almost all the schools, the results of the academic year 2010-11 were declared between March 26 and March 28. March 29 was the promised date on which the sale of books was to begin. However, the books have not been delivered to schools on time, causing great anguish among parents.

Flustered parents

Dhanya Menon, a resident of Sanpada and a parent, says he went to his ward's school twice over, but still failed to obtain the books. "Initially, the date was March 29, which was later deferred to April 5. Though both dates have come and gone, I still have not received the full set of books."
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Shubhada More, a resident of Vashi, said, "It is particularly inconvenient for working parents to repeatedly make trips to the school to get books for their children. Moreover, the distribution schedule is being changed without prior notice."

Another major source of concern for parents is that the teachers have begun teaching the syllabus, even though students do not have access to the books. "Our children are finding it difficult to follow lessons without relevant books to guide them. They are even being given homework.

How are we to guide them through their assignments without the course books?" asked an exasperated Menon.
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Prachi Sharma, (name changed) a parent of a student of DAV School, Nerul, echoed the sentiments of other parents, adding, "The publishers have displayed gross negligence, and they must mend their ways if this problem is to be eliminated."

Teachers' dilemma

The subject teachers are aware of the problems faced by the students. However, they cannot afford to wait for the books to arrive, as doing so will hamper their schedule for completion of course work.u00a0

Veena Shree, a substitute teacher at Ryan International School, Sanpada, said, "If we wait for all the students to receive their books, we will have to rush through the syllabus at the end.

No revised date for delivery of books has been given. It is impossible for us to wait indefinitely," she added.

The school is noncommittal. Roma Singh, supervisor at Ryan International, said, "We are in constant communication with the publishers, who have given us dates. We have forwarded the same to the parents. The school is not responsible for the delay."

Distribution disorder

Amit Chaurasia, the distributor in charge of the sale of books at Ryan International, blamed publishers for dumping different books on the distributors, without clarifying which books have been recommended by the board. He also attributed the delay to a frequent change of CBSE course books.

The CBSE regional officer was unavailable for comment, while attempts to contact other board officials yielded no results.