High-level probe into textbook printing delay in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Monday said that a high-level inquiry would  be conducted into the delay in the printing of school textbooks.

His announcement came after a meeting with the KSU delegation  earlier in the day. Mr Chandy said the distribution of textbooks would begin from July 20. 

He  has convened a meeting of officials of the education, printing and postal departments here on Tuesday to discuss the arrangements for the distribution of textbooks.  

He  had called the KSU delegation led by state president V.P. Joy for discussions in view of the education bandh call given by the organisation.

However, following the talks and the announcement on a detailed probe, the KSU  withdrew the  bandh call.

Nearly 43 lakh textbooks are yet to reach the students even one month after the school reopening. Kerala Books and Publications Society (KBPS ) has announced that the books would reach the schools by August.

A total of 1,15,26,289  books were to be distributed  before the school reopening in June . However, at that time,  around 65 lakh textbooks remained to be printed. Following this, three government presses at Mannanthala,  Shoranur and Vazhoor were being utilised.