With the advent of new academic session of the schools across the city from April 3, parents are struggling to get textbooks for their wards. There is a shortage of National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) textbooks across the city, mainly for Classes 9, 10, 11 and 12.
Unavailability of books has made students run from pillar to post. RK Chaudhary, a book store owner in Sector 36, said there was a shortage of textbooks of biology for Class 11 and chemistry part-1 for Class 12.
He said, "I feel bad turning children away every time they come looking for books. This is a scene every session."
With shortage of textbooks, parents are the main sufferers. Bhupinder Kumari, a mother of Class 9 student, said, "I am feeling harassed making rounds of the shops, but books are not available. Shopkeepers are giving no assurance about the availability of textbooks."
Laying stress on non-availability of books from NCERT, Ramesh Chander, a distributor of NCERT textbooks in Sector 23, said, "Books of social science are not available, which mainly includes geography. Geography textbooks of Classes 6, 9, 11 and 12 are not available since January. We have a demand for 200 books, but receive only 50% of the books."
Amanat Duhan, a government school student in Class 10, said, "She does not have textbooks of Class 10. Books are very important at the start of new session as the competition starts from the very first day."
{{/usCountry}}Amanat Duhan, a government school student in Class 10, said, "She does not have textbooks of Class 10. Books are very important at the start of new session as the competition starts from the very first day."
{{/usCountry}}Sujata Maity, a government school student of Class 9, said, "Only Sanskrit textbook is available and rest are out of stock. Due to non-availability of books there will be no studies in the school, the entire week."