By Anwarzada Gulyar
The government’s tall claims of providing free education may sound encouraging, but ground realities paint a different picture. Official statements repeatedly assert that free textbooks are distributed among students in public schools to ensure that no child is deprived of education. However, in practice, this facility remains far from fully available. Reports from multiple districts suggest that the supply of books is “a drop in the ocean,” with only 20 to 25 out of every 100 students receiving textbooks, while the rest are forced to purchase them from the market.
An even more alarming aspect is that the same government-issued textbooks, meant to be distributed free of cost, are openly available for sale in private markets. This situation not only raises serious questions about the transparency of government policies but also casts doubt on the performance of the relevant departments. According to sources, there are also allegations of corruption and illegal profiteering in the tendering process for the printing and distribution of textbooks, which adversely affects the entire supply chain. This explains why government books are scarce in schools but readily available in markets—a matter of serious concern for the authorities.
Furthermore, complaints have emerged suggesting that some officials themselves are involved in supplying these books to booksellers or facilitating their sale through informal channels. In certain cases, it is claimed that these books are “surplus” or “leftover,” whereas, in reality, there is a clear demand for them within schools.
It is also a fact that private educational institutions use the same curriculum and textbooks, which sustains their demand in the market. However, if the government intends to regulate this process, it must establish a clear and transparent mechanism. A separate supply channel should be created for private schools, ensuring that textbooks allocated for public schools do not end up in commercial markets under any circumstances.
There is an urgent need for the government to ensure the complete and timely provision of textbooks while strictly monitoring all stages of tendering, distribution, and delivery. A transparent accountability system must be introduced, those responsible must be held to account, and an effective monitoring mechanism should be put in place. Otherwise, the slogan of free education will remain merely a claim, and for the common citizen, educating their children will continue to be a challenging endeavor.
