THE Sindh government and its School Education and Literacy Department have recently encouraged school heads to establish book banks in schools. While the initiative aims at promoting resource-sharing and ensuring that students have access to textbooks, several challenges must be addressed to make it practical and effective.

One of the major concerns is the quality of the books provided by the government. The textbooks distributed by the Sindh Textbook Board (STBB) often suffer from poor paper quality and weak binding, making it difficult for students, especially younger ones, to keep them in a good condition throughout the year. This raises questions about how these books can be preserved and returned to the proposed book banks in a usable state.

Each year, the Sindh government allocates a considerable budget for printing and publishing new textbooks. According to recent reports, the STBB’s budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 is approximately Rs4.5 billion. Despite this substantial funding, the province continues to face a shortage of textbooks.

The issue is worsened by the insufficient number of books printed annually, leaving several students without essential learning material. Complaints about shortages echo from every corner of Sindh, highlighting the inefficiencies in the current system and the urgent need for reforms.

The concept of book banks, while noble in theory, appears impractical under the present circumstances.

Additionally, the distribution process needs to be overhauled to ensure timely delivery of books to schools at the start of the academic year. Without addressing these core issues, the establishment of book banks will remain an unachievable goal.

Furthermore, the government is said to be exploring the introduction of digital textbooks and e-learning platforms as supplementary resources. These digital tools could reduce reliance on physical books, and provide students with alter-native learning options. However, the implementation of digital textbooks and e-learning platforms may have several other issues, such as the provision of electricity and maintenance of digital equipment and their safety.

Ali Gul Leghari
Johi

Published in Dawn, March 28th, 2025