Mumbai: School principals fume over order to maintain book records

The state education department has asked city schools to recollect class V to VIII textbooks and self-study books at the end of the academic year and distribute the same to the next batch. However, this hasn't seem to go down well with the school principals, who claim to be burdened with enough responsibilities already.

Until the order, the students of class V to VIII were given textbooks and self-study books by the department under the Sarvashiksha Abhiyan. However, it has now asked school principals to collect all those books from students once they pass, keep a record of the books, and maintain a circular for the same in order to distribute among the next academic batch.

In a new circular issued on 27 June by the education department, the principals have been asked to maintain a record on the way distribution is done, mantain records of recollecting the books. Instructions like keeping the books away from dust, water, fire, termites and also from probable thefts have also been mentioned for students.

The circular states that after distributing the books second time to the another batch, it need not be recollected for distribution. However, the principals of city school say that apart from teaching, maintaining school students records on educational website, election duties, this is an added burden.

A principal from central suburb spoke with DNA on the condition of anonymity. "Are we less burdened with school work and teaching or election duty that we are now also being asked to keep these records?"

Prashant Redij, spokesperson, Mumbai Principal Association, said, "There is already such space crunch in schools and now the department wants us to collect the books from students and preserve it in school premises safely. This is an additional burden for us."