How to fix the textbook problem

The extension of school vacations by a fortnight in Sindh – until August 14 – has triggered speculations about the actual reason behind the decision, beyond just the ongoing spell of hot weather.

The media has pointed out the delay in publication of textbooks as the prime factor behind the recent decision. However, the Sindh government’s school education and literacy department continues to dismiss these reports as biased, tarnishing the department’s well-intentioned efforts.

To get more details, I spoke to various key stakeholders off the record and reviewed several documents. I am of the opinion that while media reports hold some truth, the delays do not seem to be the sole reason for school closures.

Given the unprecedented heatwave across the province; prolonged electricity outages; and the fact that many schools lack drinking water facilities, it would have been rather risky to reopen schools. Therefore, extending the vacations for a few days seems a considerate decision in the given circumstances. While one cannot deny the academic loss this decision could lead to for the already struggling students of the province, it is equally important to consider the potential risks to their health.

Delays in the distribution of free textbooks among students enrolled in public schools across the province is another issue that merits a separate analysis. This issue is not limited to Sindh, but slippages on the part of all provinces have repeatedly made headlines in the media. You may wonder why provincial governments have taken on such a huge responsibility, both financially and administratively, of providing free textbooks to millions of children each year in all public schools. The answer lies in Article 25A of the constitution, which mandates that the state shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of five to 16 years in such a manner as may be determined by law.

Therefore, all provincial governments are constitutionally obliged to ensure the provision of ‘free and compulsory education’ to children in their respective provinces. The provinces have taken various initiatives to shift the financial burden of educating a child from the parent to the state, including free textbooks and waiving tuition and examination fees.

Besides this, the review of the implementation of Article25A reveals some significant anomalies, particularly in its interpretation. It appears that the state is only concerned about those students who are enrolled in government schools, where considerable efforts are being made towards their education. However, the state seems to absolve itself of any responsibility towards students attending private schools, who must pay all fees, buy textbooks and cover all other related expenditures.

Where does the article specify that the state’s responsibility is limited to students in government schools? The article clearly emphasizes ‘free’ and ‘compulsory’ education without such distinction. If there is no ambiguity in this regard, why do our provincial governments operate under such assumptions? Shouldn’t this inconsistency be resolved to ensure the equal treatment of all children, regardless of their economic status? Alternatively, should the article be amended to explicitly define which children the state is mandated to educate?

Regarding the delayed printing of textbooks, there are numerous reasons for this, ranging from insufficient capacity among publishers/contractors to multiple litigations involving the Sindh Textbook Board in different courts, which have hindered the timely execution of the assignment.

First, the scale of this task is enormous, with approximately five million sets or 400 million books needing to be published annually. Each year, some Rs500-600 million are earmarked for printing and transporting these books to all public schools in the province. The tender for printing is divided into 39 packages, with each vendor allowed to undertake a maximum of two packages. Overall, 15 to 17 contractors are selected to complete the assignment.

Allegations, even from former board officials, suggest that some contractors are highly influential and manage to secure awards but do not have the capacity to complete the task, leading to repeated delays in publication. The academic year begins in April, but at this time, students are still awaiting their books.

In response to the allegations regarding contractors’ capacity, officials from the Sindh Textbook Board attributed the delay to multiple litigations filed against the Board by different competing parties. These legal battles resulted in stay orders, causing significant delays. Upon the vacation of these stay orders in February 2024, the Board accelerated the publication process. The officials say that at least 80 per cent of the books have been published to date and will be dispatched to their destinations before the reopening of schools.

But the challenge is not limited to printing. Even after the books are printed, getting them into the hands of children remains a challenge. Initially, the books arrive at the taluka education office (TEO), from where head teachers and teachers are tasked with collecting them for their schools. Unfortunately, in most cases, a significant number of these books remain piled up at these offices because head teachers and teachers do not have sufficient funds to transport them from TEO offices to their schools. This cycle of delays repeats each year without any innovative solution.

To address this persistent problem, long-term and out-of-the-box solutions need to be explored. One potential approach could be for the government to cease directly handling the publication and distribution of books. Instead, harnessing the private sector could enhance efficiency and transparency in fulfilling this constitutional obligation.

The government may consider procuring books from the market and distributing them via private courier services. Besides resolving the current problem, this step could also help generate economic opportunities. Is the Sindh government prepared to seriously consider this approach?

The writer is an education expert

and can be reached at: asgharsoomro@gmail.com