KARACHI, March 24: Sindh Education Minister Irfanullah Marwat, on Wednesday, said that the printing of textbooks had been delayed this year as the district governments had not yet released funds to the Sindh Text Book Board.

In a statement issued here in response to press reports questioning the delay in provision of textbooks, the minister said that last year the board had received funds in December and the books were delivered to schools by April. However, he added, the position was different this year.

He said, "The provincial education and finance departments had decided in a meeting to release the funds to the Sindh Text Book Board directly." The education minister maintained that the finance department released the funds on March 12 to the district governments deviating from the decision. "Since, the district governments have not made any payment to the board, it has delayed printing of books," he added.

In rest of three provinces, the funds were released directly to the textbook boards facilitating them to ensure timely provision of text books in schools, he said. "However, owing to my personal interest and guarantee, the board has started the printing process and hopefully the textbooks would soon be available in the schools," he maintained. -PPI