Textbook distribution delay hits classes in govt PU colleges in Kodagu

Madikeri: Kodagu district, which achieved third position in the state II PUC examination results, has witnessed a rise in the enrolment of students to govt PU colleges this year, but the failure to distribute textbooks is causing inconvenience to students.DDPU Ganapathi said admissions across govt and govt-aided colleges in the district have risen this year, and a higher number of students are opting for govt colleges.Last year, 1,392 enrolled in govt PU colleges in the district, which is expected to touch 1,500 this year. Around 1,300 students joined govt-aided colleges last year. The official said lessons for I PU and II PU started on May 25.Teaching in govt and aided colleges in the district is being held back because textbooks have not been distributed.

Principals from two govt colleges in the district, who requested not to be named, said students are experiencing difficulties due to the lack of textbooks.“The classes have begun from May 25. At several private colleges, students are writing their first internal examination. However, classes in govt colleges are being stalled as students do not have textbooks,” said principal of a govt-aided college in the district.

He added that textbooks for students in govt and govt-aided colleges are meant to be provided free of cost, but the books have not been received.Asked about the delay, the DDPU said that only 20% of the textbooks have reached the three taluks in the district. He said three publishers are responsible for supplying textbooks, but only one publisher has completed delivery to the district. It may take around a month for the distribution of textbooks, he said, asserting that the classes are going on and it has not affected the academic calendar.