Punjab Faces Shortage of Textbooks Due to Delay in Issuing Tenders

Punjab is bracing for a potential textbook shortage in the upcoming academic year due to delays in the issuance of printing tenders for primary school books. The Punjab Curriculum and Textbook Board (PECTAA) has released tenders for grades 6 to 10, whereas those for grades 1 to 5 remain outstanding. Experts estimate that around 30 new textbooks for nursery to grade 5 will be published next year, with a total goal of printing approximately 300 million books.

However, printing tenders were issued in September of the previous year, yet primary school textbooks' tenders are still pending as of the halfway point of October. This delay has raised red flags among publishers, especially with the new academic year commencing for private schools on January 1. Publishers are urging for the expeditious release of the remaining tenders to prevent a possible textbook scarcity.

The Education Department has reassured that tenders for grades 1 to 5 will soon be issued and that all textbooks will be made available prior to the commencement of the new academic year.