More than two weeks into the second term, Class 9 students in Chandigarh government schools are still waiting for their NCERT textbooks for all subjects, with the delay raising concerns over teaching and learning as the academic year progresses. The second term began on October 3, but the books are yet to be delivered to government schools, leaving students dependent on photocopies and online study material.
“The delay is on the part of NCERT, but we have provided photocopies and online material to the students. There is no loss to the students. “Books are available in the market since October, and private-school students are purchasing them.
This year, the education department announced that it would provide free books to Class 9 students in government schools, but these have not been supplied yet.
Students are given different textbooks for different terms, according to the current system. When contacted, director of school education Nitish Singla said the delay was on NCERT’s part and maintained that students were not losing out academically. The office payment and order for supply have already been sent to NCERT,” Singla said. The order has been placed with NCERT, but there has been no delivery,” the teacher said.
However, a teacher from a private school, requesting anonymity, pointed to the difference in how students in government and private schools are managing the situation.
