Imphal, February 05, 2009: Even though the academic session of 2009 has commenced in most of the schools under the Board of Secondary Education, Manipur (BSEM), students and guardians have started facing the handicap of shortage unavailability of text books prescribed by BSEM.

Under such circumstances, all the efforts of the State Government to improve school education are simply going down the drain.

Following complaints from several quarters about unavailability of text books on time, The Sangai Express conducted a market survey in book stores located at Imphal.

It has been found that BSEM prescribed text books for class III.

class V, class VII, class VIII and class X were not available in complete sets.

According to these book store managers, some of the text books which are not available at all are Environmental Studies for class III, Londam for class V, Hindi Grammar for class VII, Hindi Course Book for class VIII and Mathematics.

Science and Social Science for class X.These text books are yet to hit market till date, they said.

Although BSEM ordered approximate numbers of text books to publishing firms, almost all book stores find it difficult to get more copies of the text books which have been put on sale already.

The text books which have been marketed in limited numbers include English Cursive Writing for class I and It, Environmental Studies for class V, Manipuri Grammar for class VI.

Londam for class VII, Science for class VIII and Additional English, Manipuri Sahitya Nachom and Manipuri Tengbang Sahitya Nachom for class X.The book Store managers said.

On being contacted BSEM Secretary L Rajmohon said that there was a little delay in issuing printing orders to publishing firms as some text books were reviewed just before issuing printing orders.

The delay in issuing printing orders resulted in unavailability of text, books in time This has also resulted in a major setback to the Government's initiative to give quality education in Government schools.

The authority is still unable to provide complete set of text books prescribed by BSEM to students of the Keishamthong High School Special Category Co educational English School.

The school was opened by Education Minister L Jayantakumar on February 2.Its maiden session is scheduled to commence on February.

Text books which could not be provided to students include Manipuri Tengbang Sahitya, Additional English, Social Science, Science and Mathematics for class X.Hindi Grammar , Science and Technology and Hindi Sugam Shiksha for class VIII are the other text books.

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