Students of these schools are forced to rely on second hand books and some don't even have access to the same. This has affected the education of the students who are now worried about their performance in the first term exams.While some school students have not received text books of different subjects, some schools have received textbooks from the suppliers, but the school management is yet to transport them to schools from district headquarter Chainpur.
"We don't have even a single text book in the school and teachers rely on other neighboring schools for teaching. For instance, our social studies teacher borrows social study textbook from Sunikot Secondary School thrice a week," said Dipak Bohara, a eighth grader at Janaki Lower Secondary School, Kinada. Dipak's class consists of 25 students and none of them have yet received textbooks of any subject, he informed.
Though the students have frequented district headquarters themselves for the textbooks in the last four months, they have returned empty handed so far. "Lack of textbook has become an excuse for our school teachers to remain absent. Citing lack of textbook as a reason, they come to school just thrice a week," Dipak added.
While the shortage of textbooks like that of mathematics, social studies is claimed to be due to inability of district text book suppliers, and the Sajha Prakashan, some of the schools are deprived of textbook due to gross negligence of the school principal and management.
Bhakta Bohara, a seventh grader, at Dhuli Lower Secondary School, said that they were deprived of text books because of the principal's inability to fulfill his repeated promises over the past four months to brings books from the district headquarters.
"First terminal examinations are approaching and we are yet to receive the textbooks," Bohara told Republica expressing concerns about the fate of their studies and performance in the exams. Locals have accused that Principal Navaraj Joshi has sold the school textbooks from grade one to eight to a book store in the district headquarters.
Bohara said that Joshi and two other teachers have not even attended the school in the last four months. "They record their attendances of four months in just a day when they come to school." Bohara further informed that Joshi's wife, who was transferred to the school two years ago, is also yet to show her face at the school.
However Joshi refuted allegations leveled against him. He told Republica that the textbooks have been safely kept at Chakra Bohora's stationery situated in Chainpur and will be transported to school as soon as possible.
He said that the textbooks have been not transported to school in lack of porters and rainfall. "The school is three days walk from the district headquarters and we are not able to find porters willing to do the job during monsoon season. Joshi also refuted accusations of not attending the school claiming that he has been attending the school regularly.
Meanwhile District Education Officer (DEO), Motilal Sharma, said that action will be taken against the school principal for failure in delivery of the textbooks in the school even after four months of the beginning of academic session. "Principals who have failed to deliver textbooks to their schools will be held responsible for the weak performance of the students," Sharma said adding that the DEO will investigate into the issue of irregular attendanc of the teachers reported.
Even renowned schools near the district headquarters are lacking social study textbook for grade eight. Eight grade students of Shanti Secondary School, Banichaur Secondary School, Satyabadi Higher Secondary School, Kulmasta Higher Secondary School, Bal Bikas Higher Secondary School, Sunpipal Chaur Higher Secondary School and Janapriya Higher Secondary School have been attending social studies classes without any text book. With their first term exams approaching near, they are concerned about their performance in the final district level exams, which adds certain percentage of marks from terminal exams as well.
"Teachers are pushing the course in full speed, I still don't have the social study text book. How am I supposed to prepare for the District Level Examination in such condition?" complained another eighth grader, Chakra Joshi of Satyabadi Higher Secondary School.
There are nine book stationeries in the district headquarters that supply and sell textbooks to a total of 315 schools that includes 35 higher secondary schools and 42 secondary level schools.
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