No textbooks on first day of school in Pune

Even as the state government has made grand plans to welcome students on their first day of school to make it a memorable one, it has fallen flat as text-books for standard I and II are unavailable in the market.

The summer vacation ends on Sunday and the schools are supposed to re-open on Monday, but the children will be devoid of their textbooks on the maiden day.

According to the booksellers, the books will be available next week.

Prashant Keniya of Pragati Book shop said, ”Books for standard I and II are not available. We have been told that the books will be available next week. We have informed the parents likewise.”
Moreover, this year the State Council for Educational Research and Training (SCERT) and board of studies of Balbharati (Maharashtra State Bureau of Text Book Production and Curriculum Research) has framed a new curriculum for the two standards. The curriculum is farmed on the lines of National Curriculum Framework (2005) under State Curriculum Framework. Almost all the books carry various pictures, sketches and graphics in varied hues to attract the students.

SCERT director NK Jarag said, ”We have finished with the making of the curriculum. We are giving training to the teachers to teach the new syllabus and evaluate the students. The training session is on and will continue till mid-July.”

Balbharati director GK Mhamane was unavailable for comment. Sources from Balbharati said that the books have not been distributed for want of permission from the board of studies (BOS).

Sources said that Balbharati has to give permission to release the books in the market. No meeting between them and the director has convened.

Last-minute rush for school supplies

With schools reopening on Monday, braving the drizzle, parents and children flocked to Appa Balwant Chowk on Saturday to buy notebooks, books, school bags and other stationery material.

Roadside stalls set up by political parties line the street selling books and giving discounts to attract vote bank Enthusiastic about attending the school, Shrushti Potdar, a standard II student of Second Home English Medium School in Dhankavdi, said, “I want to meet my teachers and friends. .”

Shrushti’s father Dattatreya Potdar said, “This year, the school told us to buy books from the market. Both my daughters, Shrushti and Sanika (standard IV), are very excited to buy new books, bags, tiffin boxes etc.”

Amol Bhandare of ABC Stationery said, “The rate of foolscap notebook this year is risen up by 10% and there is a marginal increase in the price of small notebooks.”