A whopping Rs.300 crore was spent on printing them
Because of the proposal of the State government to have a re-look at the school education system, nearly 15 lakh newly printed textbooks under the Equitable Education System are now lying idle in the godowns in Cuddalore district.
These might most probably be rendered obsolete if the committee proposed to be set up by the Ministry of Education finds the quality of contents not up to the mark. Education Department sources told The Hindu that a whopping Rs.300 crore had been spent on printing these books for distribution all over the State. It would work out to roughly Rs.10 crore for every district and it was a matter of conjecture whether these books would ever be used at all. The private matriculation schools were vociferous critics of the new system of education because they felt that it would dilute the quality of education.
They would rather prefer the department to allow them to procure “standard textbooks” compiled within the framework of the syllabus. The parents and students had a differing view that the private schools were thrusting upon them the highly priced textbooks. They were of the opinion that only government-supplied textbooks, as proposed under the new system, would bring down the cost of education. Already, the “Samacheer Kalvi Thittam” (Equitable Education System) was introduced in Class I and Class VI. For the current academic year, it was proposed to bring Class I to Class X under the system.
However, the new government formed by the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam had decided to keep at bay its implementation and also withheld the distribution of new text books.
It meant that even Class I and Class VI should also revert to the old system of education. The sources further said that already the private schools had started placing orders with the publishers to fulfil their textbook requirements as per the 2009-2010 syllabus.
Keywords: Samacheer Kalvi, textbooks redundant
How come 300 Crores was spent ? Even if we spend Rs 100 for a book, it takes only 15 Crore..Who was the beneficiary of the 285 Crores?..
Chris: Yes, it is not a good idea to stop Rs.300 crore work and revert back to old system. It is currently another way for corruption by matric school owners. They just hide the corruption involved using the word 'quality will decrease if syllabus is of this type'. Statistically speaking children won't remember what they have read from std 1 to 10 after some years. Only thing that matters is how they read, whether they improved their basic understanding ability, reading ability, speaking ability. Their exposure in terms of speaking, reading, writing and practical learning should be increased. They should not stick to the books completely first of all. Now in this google world, what is not there. Their hunger to learn should be enhanced instead of ruining it. Don't complicate by complicating what they read. Keep it simple and enhance their hunger to learn.
Just shows that the new government doesn't want equality in education, the rich get the best education and the poor have to suffer for their ignorance. Great start by the new government.
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