'School books issue for 2006 over, 2007 quota by end December'

COLOMBO: Having solved problems that arose in the distribution of free textbooks among schoolchildren for the year 2006, necessary arrangements have now been made to issue books to children for the year 2007 by the end of December this year, states Educational Publications Commissioner General N. Dharmasena.

He said that the delays in previous years occurred due to non-availability of accurate statistics, transfer of students in mid year with the consequence of excess of students in certain schools and the increase of intake from 40 to 45 in classes above Grade 6.

These problems have now been sorted out and after 12 years, for the next year the schoolchildren will receive their free textbooks before their December vacation this year. It marks a triumph achieved by the Educational Publications Department, he stated.

The Department expects to commence this task under the patronage of Education Minister Susil Premajayantha at the Dean's Road office of the Department on August 17.

It will continue till December 01 and after completing distribution of books before the December school vacation, any shortcomings will be looked into in the course of the month of December, he explained.