Textbooks distribution completed

The distribution of the full quota of text books needed by schools countrywide has now been completed, said Education Publications Department Director General W.M.N.J. Pushpakumara. Books outside this quota required by zonal education offices too have been distributed through mobile vans, he said.

The total quota of school text books needed this year was 33 million. Almost 26.5 million of them were printed by the Educational Publication Department while the balance was met by existing stocks at department stores and books obtained for re-use from students. The entire publication and distribution exercise this year cost nearly Rs. 3,000 million, he said.

Meanwhile, the Government has taken steps to meet the shortage of school textbooks in the North and East.

Schoolchildren from uncleared areas who are presently staying at 16 IDP camps in Vavuniya will obtain their text books from Gamini Maha Vidyalaya, Vavuniya while Vavuniya Zonal Education office, Trincomalee Provincial Education office and Jaffna District Secretariat too have made arrangements to release these books to children in other areas, the Commissioner General of Educational Publications Department said.