The work of distribution of free textbooks to the 324 government high schools and higher secondary schools in Salem district has almost been completed.
A total of 27,148 Plus Two students and more than 1.47 lakh students of classes VI to X studying in the government schools will be receiving the free textbooks as soon as the schools re-open.
The Salem education district and the Sankagiri education district have already received their quota of free textbooks from the Tamil Nadu Text Books and Educational Services Corporation, Chennai.
The work of despatching the textbooks to the government schools, welfare schools, Adidravidar residential schools, municipal and corporation schools commenced in the district on Monday.
In the last four days, textbooks have been despatched to all the 324 high and higher secondary schools – Salem education district 202 and Sankagiri education district 122.
The work of despatching the textbooks had already been completed, a few days ahead of the scheduled deadline, A. Gnana Gowri, Chief Education Officer, told presspersons here on Wednesday.
The textbooks were sent to the government schools in Thalaivasal and Gangavalli unions on Monday, to schools in Pethanayakkanpalayam, Attur, Vazhappadi unions on Tuesday, to the schools in Ayothiyapattinam, Salem city and the surrounding areas on Wednesday and to the schools in Yercaud, Veerapandi and Panamarathupatti unions on Thursday.
The Government HSS at Mallur and the Government HSS, Kamandapatti near Omalur are the nodal centres for Salem and Sankagiri education districts for stocking the textbooks and despatching the same to all the schools.
The students of classes VI to IX will get the books for the first quarter, while the students of classes X and Plus Two will get the books for the academic year.
More than 21,700 students of class VI, 24,000 students of class VII, 24,700 students of class VIII, 40,906 students of class IX and 35,806 students of class X are expected to receive the free textbooks in the high and higher secondary schools, Mrs. Gnana Gowri said.
The government has directed the School Education Department officials in all the districts to complete the work of despatching textbooks to all government schools by this weekend, so that they will be available to the students on the opening day of the new academic year.
Meanwhile, the District Elementary Education department launched the work of despatching the books for students of classes I to V in primary schools and 1 to VIII in middle schools on Thursday.
The books are being despatched to a total of 1,545 primary and middle schools – 1,324 schools in panchayat union limits, 78 in municipal limits, 87 government aided schools and 56 schools run by Adidravidar Welfare Department in the district.
The work of despatching of books to primary and middle schools is expected to be completed in a day or two.
