KARACHI, Aug 24: The Sindh Education department till Wednesday afternoon was ignorant of the development and marketing of the new and revised book of Pakistan Studies – taught to students mostly in class IX.

Sources in the department told Dawn that till Aug 23, the Sindh Textbook Board (STB) had not informed the education secretary or others concerned about development of the book; and it was only on Wednesday, after publication of some news report about the confusion on teaching of the Pakistan Studies book in class IX, that the STB chairman formally intimated authorities of the development.

The education department source said that had the department been informed even in the first week of August about the position of the book, the dispute of whether the new book of Pakistan Study or the old one should be taught to students in class IX could have been addressed well in advance.

It was learnt that after receiving the STB letter about implementation of the textbooks of Pakistan Studies, the matter would be set aside by the education secretary, additional secretary (A&T) and the STB chairman shortly.

As claimed by an STB source, as many as four Urdu editions (70,000 copies) and four English editions (50,000 copies) of the new Pakistan Studies book for classes IX and X students had been printed and published by the STB in August for the 2005-06 session.

In the meantime, the education department has also pointed out that as per the old scheme of studies, Pakistan Studies was to be taught in class X; however, the educational boards have for long been giving exams in the subject in class IX (SSC Part-I).

However, commenting on some recent developments and concerns of students and teachers in regard to the scheme of studies, introduction and implementation of new books, independent sources summed up that there was no coherence between the government’s policies and its strategies.

All this indicate that quarters concerned are working in a state of isolation with a lesser degree of coordination, said a senior academic.