2 months into new session, govt schools get books

Chandigarh: More than two months after the beginning of the new academic session, govt school students are finally about to receive NCERT textbooks. The education department is starting cluster-wise distribution of books for Classes IX to XII from Tuesday.The district education office (DEO) has directed cluster in-charges to collect NCERT books between June 9 and June 17 from PM SHRI Govt Girls Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 18, for onward distribution to schools under their clusters.The move comes after students spent nearly the entire first leg of the 2026–27 academic session, which commenced on April 1, attending classes without textbooks before schools closed for summer vacation on May 23. When schools reopen in July, most students are expected to finally have access to books in classrooms.The delay in availability of textbooks had emerged as a major concern in Chandigarh govt schools in recent weeks. Earlier, concerns were raised over Class IX students continuing studies without revised NCERT books amid syllabus changes under the National Education Policy (NEP) framework.TOI had also reported govt schools closing for summer vacation while key academic gaps, including missing textbooks, remained unresolved.According to the DEO communication, cluster heads have been asked to provide enrolment details for Classes IX to XII and collect books as per a fixed roster at 10am. The books will subsequently be distributed among schools under each cluster.However, one important textbook is still unavailable. The revised Class IX Social Science book has neither reached schools nor been uploaded in soft-copy format yet, according to school sources.Teachers said the textbook is expected to arrive a few weeks later, meaning students of the class may still have to begin the post-vacation term without complete study material.The issue has been particularly significant for Class IX students as revised NCERT textbooks are being rolled out nationally under updated curriculum changes. In several parts of the country too, schools have reported delays in availability of revised Class IX books, with some subjects yet to become available even digitally.