Incomplete sets of books irk parents

Manav Mander
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, June 16

It’s been nearly a month since government schools started calling students to collect books of their respective classes. However, parents alleged that schools have failed to provide complete sets of books and are calling students just to collect one or two books.

Amid the Covid-19 scare and extreme weather conditions, parents find it nonsensical to come all the way to school and find out that only 1-2 books are available there.

Today, students of Government Senior Secondary Smart School, PAU, were called to collect books. Students of Class IV were given Maths and environment education books, Class VI students were given science, computer and English books while Class XI students got only Punjabi books.

A parent said, “The school should have called us only when the complete book set was available. My son got only one book of Punjabi,” he said.

Another parent said this is the third time they have been called by the school to collect the books. “It is harassment of the parents to call them after every few days and give them a few books. Students should be given the complete book set,” he said.

Sanjeev Thapar, principal, Government Model Senior Secondary Smart School, PAU, said, “It will take time to complete the book set, so we are giving students whatever we have. We are also giving them some old books so that their studies don’t get hampered. All students will get the new book set,” he said.

Tehal Singh, press secretary, Government School Teachers’ Union, Ludhiana, said both parents and students are facing difficulties due to unavailability of books. Only 1-2 books are available. Schools should be given complete books sets, he demanded.