Education minister to be honoured for implementing NCERT books in schools
This is being hailed as a historic move as it will help parents save money on books.
Uttarakhand education minister Arvind Pandey, who has faced flak from teachers for implementing dress code and biometric devices in schools, would be felicitated in Haldwani on Sunday for implementing NCERT books in the curriculum of CBSE affiliated schools.
This is being hailed as a historic move as it will help parents save money on books. It was estimated that many parents who had been spending up to ₹5,000 to ₹6,000 on text books now has to pay only ₹1,000 ₹2,000 for NCERT books.
However, the process of distribution of NCERT books had its own share of hiccups. There were complaints that the schools were promoting books by private publishers. District administration of a number of districts conducted raids on godowns of booksellers which revealed some irregularities such as evasion of Goods and Services Tax or GST.
The education department has now claimed that almost all the students have procured the books and there are no problem in distribution.
RK Kunwar the director of school education, Uttarakhand, said that the enforcement of selling of NCERT books is being followed. “The administration of various districts has been conducting raids on godowns of the booksellers and checking for the situation,” he said.
Kunwar pointed out that they have earlier floated tenders for supply of 32 lakh books which was later raised to 60 lakh.
Chandra Shekhar Kargeti, a social activist, however, says that there have been irregularities in supply of NCERT books and it must be looked into. The nexus between private publishers and schools is still active and they have found a way out for selling their books. He said that only strict enforcement and smooth supply of books in the future would help the students get relief from the high priced books.
