S Gopal Puri
Shimla
The education system in Himachal Pradesh is facing serious questions as thousands of students in government schools continue to struggle without textbooks even after more than a month into the academic session.
Classes in winter-closing schools began on February 12, yet as of March 20, students from Class 6 to 9 are still waiting for essential textbooks. This delay is not just a logistical issue—it is directly impacting learning outcomes and leaving both students and teachers in a difficult situation.
Missing Textbooks Across Classes
A wide range of subjects remain unavailable across multiple grades:
• Class 6: Local Culture, Yoga and Yog Education
• Class 7: Science, Social Science (Civics), Geography
• Class 8: English, Mathematics, Science
• Class 9: Mathematics, Science
With core subjects like Math and Science missing, students are unable to follow structured learning, creating gaps that may affect their entire academic year.
Orders Issued, But No Ground Implementation
The education department had issued clear instructions in early February, emphasizing that regular classes must begin from day one and that negligence would not be tolerated. Officials were also directed to conduct surprise inspections to ensure compliance.
However, the ground reality tells a different story. Despite strict directives, the timely supply of textbooks has failed, exposing a gap between policy and implementation.
❗ The Big Question
When the government and education authorities had already stressed the importance of starting studies on time, why did such a major delay in textbook supply occur?
Is this merely administrative negligence, or does it point to deeper systemic flaws within the education framework?
Until answers emerge and action is taken, thousands of students in Himachal Pradesh remain caught in an avoidable academic setback.
