- Textbook printing delayed due to shortage of paper and printing accessories, says Educational Publications Department Commissioner General.
- Fuel crisis and frequent power interruptions are delaying distribution and printing of textbooks across the country.
- Sri Lanka needs 38 million textbooks; 32.5 million printed this year; Publications Department must finish remaining before next school term.
The printing of school textbooks is being delayed due to a lack of paper and other related accessories, according to Sri Lanka’s Educational Publications Department Commissioner General P.N. Ilaperuma, as reported by the Daily Mirror.
According to him, the current fuel crisis in the country is also causing a delay in the distribution of printed textbooks to schools.
“The present power interruption has made a significant impact on textbook printing.” Printing of textbooks in the days before the Covid-19 pandemic was not an issue.
“Several sections of the state printing corporation and private printers have closed due to COVID pandemic. Therefore, the completion of the projects were delayed. However, 45 per cent of the school text books were printed at the state Printing Corporation,” he said, as per the report.
In Sri Lanka, 38 million text books will be distributed to schoolchildren. This year, he said, 32.5 million textbooks would be printed.
The government has spent Rs 2,338 million on printing text books, including those distributed to children. A total of 34.8 million textbooks were distributed to provincial book stores and directly to several schools (91.8 per cent). Textbooks will be printed in 31.6 million (97%) cases.
The Publications Department, on the other hand, is required to print the remaining text books before the next school term begins.
