With only one and half months left for the final examination for Class X students in Andhra Pradesh, the government is yet to supply several textbooks to the Odia medium students. A total of 1,260 students are scheduled to appear for the Class X examinations that due to commence from the third week of March.
Students of Odia medium, particularly students of Class X, have been struggling a lot in preparing themselves for the final examinations due to lack of books. "We are yet to receive mathematics, biological science textbooks while only 12 copies of English language and 16 copies of Telugu language textbooks were supplied among 37 students in our schools," said Hadia Chintamani, a Class X student of ZP High School at Krishnapuram of Mandasa mandal. "How should we prepare for the examination without having textbooks he asked?" he asked.
The situation is also similar in other Odia medium schools in the district. "With no alternatives, we have been sharing the books in 1:3 ratio or more sometimes. Having no textbooks for biological science and mathematics subjects, we have been carefully following the notes that is being provided the teachers," said Uddan Dillep, another Class X student.
"Who would take the responsibility if they were failed in the final examinations because of having no text books he asked? With no alternatives, we have been preparing the notes in Odiya basing on the Telugu medium books keeping the needs of Odia students in view," said Krishnapuram ZP High School's Headmaster, Durga Prasad Panigrahi.
There were about 132 students including 37 Class X students in the school, he added. "Only 12 text books of English language, 16 text books of Telugu language (second language for Odia students) were supplied among 37 tenth class students. Neither biological science nor mathematics text books were supplied by the government," he said. Even the lower class students were also struggling with an insufficient supply of text books where no English language books were supplied among Class VI to Class IX.
"Only one physical science text book was supplied to the school for Class IX," he added. "As few changes occurred in the new syllabus, teachers of Odia medium had to follow the Telugu medium books with regards to the changes occurred in the syllabus." When contacted, the district inspector for Odia medium schools, Krishan Chandra Padi, said that several books were yet to be supplied to the students including those of Class X. He also said there were about 10,122 Odia medium students, studying from Classes I to X in the district.
