Book banks in schools to ensure supply of textbooks

To overcome the problem of delay in the arrival of textbooks in government and aided schools, the Department of Public Instruction has decided to set up book banks in the schools.

A circular in this regard has been issued by Shalini Rajaneesh, the Principal Secretary of Primary and Secondary Education, to the Commissioner of Department of Public Instruction and Additional Commissioner of Public Instruction, Kalaburagi and Dharwad.

In the circular, she has suggested that, after the final exams, the textbooks can be collected from students and stored in a book bank in the school, to be reused in the next academic year.

In the last few years, the textbooks have been arriving late even after the commencement of the academic year, which had been causing inconvenience to the students as well as the teachers. At present, the state government distributes textbooks free of cost to children from 1st to 10th standard in government and aided schools.

Speaking to DH, DDPI Shivaramaiah said, "After the students pass out, they do not use the textbooks. The textbooks are either kept at home or sold for the scarp dealers. Starting book banks in schools will help the passing out students to deposit their books at the end of their academic session to be distributed among the students."

"It had been decided to open book banks from 2017-18 itself. The school headmasters have been instructed to collect the textbooks from the passing out students. The textbooks can also be collected from the donors as well," he said and added that the schools did not have the concept of book banks, which will be opened from this year.

A teacher said, "Students purchase new books and huge amount of paper is used in printing those. Besides, precious academic time is wasted till the textbooks reach the students. Developing book banks is a good idea that will also inculcate a sense of responsibility among the students. Since the syllabus doesn't change every year, the books can be reused by new students year after year. Many a times, the textbooks reach the students late, thus affecting the academic performance."