Free textbooks yet to reach Rawalpindi students

The system for the delivery and distribution of free textbooks to students from Class 1 to Class 10 in government schools across Rawalpindi district has effectively collapsed. Female and male teachers arriving early from both remote areas and inner-city schools at the district textbook warehouse, located at Government Denny's Higher Secondary School, are forced to wait for hours to collect books on time. Disputes among teachers over access to timely distribution have become routine. The Chief Executive Officer of the District Education Authority (DHA) and other officials have so far failed to restore order. Although the new academic year began on April 1, two weeks have passed without a single government school distributing textbooks to students. Distribution from the warehouse to schools has only just begun. It is expected that books may start reaching students later this week, possibly on Thursday; otherwise, due to the weekend holidays, distribution may be delayed until April 20. Formal teaching is expected to commence only after textbook distribution is completed. During a visit yesterday to the warehouse at Government Denny's Higher Secondary School in Saddar Rawalpindi, severe mismanagement and disorder were observed as teachers from various schools gathered to collect books. As per routine, schools are required to submit updated enrolment lists, based on which free textbooks provided by the Punjab government are issued annually for Classes 1 through 10. A lack of discipline led to clashes among teachers at the site. Long waiting times, poor organisation and delays in the delivery process caused significant distress, resulting in a tense atmosphere and even physical altercations. According to teachers, the situation could have been avoided with timely and organised administrative measures, calling for improved planning, accountable staff and a clear distribution system in the future. A female teacher from a suburban school reported that staff had been waiting since 8am, while distribution only began at 10am. She alleged that even then, the distribution team appeared disengaged, leaving teachers standing in queues for hours under difficult conditions.