Public schools across Punjab are facing a severe shortage of approximately 839,000 free textbooks, leaving thousands of students without essential learning materials even though nearly half of the academic year has already passed.
In response to the mounting crisis, education authorities have issued urgent printing allocations for 18 textbook titles to bridge the supply gap. However, officials have yet to announce a confirmed timeline for when these books will actually be printed, distributed, and delivered to classrooms.
Key Highlights of the Textbook Crisis
- Total Shortfall: Nearly 839,000 copies across various core subjects.
- Action Taken: Printing allocations approved for 18 textbook titles.
- Major Impacted Grades: Pre-primary, Class 4, Class 10, and Class 12.
- Current Status: No confirmed delivery timeline provided by authorities.
Detailed Breakdown of Fresh Printing Allocations
To tackle shortages across various grade levels, authorities have allocated fresh printing quotas for key subjects:
Class 12 Allocations
- Tarjamat-ul-Quran: 85,000 copies
- Computer Science: 70,000 copies
- Urdu: 65,000 copies
- Biology: 54,000 copies
- Chemistry: 45,000 copies
Class 10 Allocations
- Biology: 70,000 copies
- Tarjamat-ul-Quran: 60,000 copies
Primary & Middle Grades Allocations
- Pre-Primary Primer: 80,000 copies
- Class 4 Islamyat: 35,000 copies
Growing Concerns From Education Experts
The persistence of these textbook shortages deep into October has raised serious alarm among teachers, parents, and education experts. Critics have questioned why the shortfall was allowed to persist this late into the academic calendar.
Furthermore, education stakeholders remain concerned about how long the printing, binding, and logistics will take before these books physically reach students’ hands, potentially impacting upcoming exam preparations and overall academic progress.
