For far too long, there was a delay in textbooks that prevented the beginning of the academic race that required families and staff members to scramble to keep the students at the same speed.
The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (BOSE) has quickly responded to this issue and has addressed this issue long before anyone else across the country and is now beginning to establish the tone for efficiency and to plan ahead.
The decision to distribute free texts to students through 8th grade by the end of November is a positive decision welcomed by all participants.
The BOSE says to parents that students who are eligible will receive their free textbooks in the first week of December as putting students’ careers and subjects at the forefront of concern.
And great news for parents of children in government institutions since it costs parents thousands of rupees to purchase from a shop or store from wherever.
On this point, you cannot overstate the merit of this long established tradition. For a child, entering the world of education, a text book is far more than pages for a student to read.
If a student’s educational learning opportunity begins as soon as these essential resources are ordered, personalized and distributed for school start up, the problems associated with assuring educational learning opportunities are minimized.
This eliminates the stress – and inequitable experience of educational learning opportunities for families that are struggling to provide. The system we have created provides, in essence, the great equalizer of educational equity and rights to a free education and the promise of public education.
Furthermore, by providing some level of timeline of the distribution process starting November end and continuing through the first week of December BOSE provided some level of certainty for families and schools and students and teachers. Schools can plan effective curriculum; teachers can have confidence in their plans; and, families won’t experience anxiety or any financial or logistical burden.
