Muhammad Irshad ullah
PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Textbook Board (KPTBB) at a meeting on Wednesday reviewed the development of model textbooks for grades 9-12, but concerns emerged regarding delays, transparency and logistical inefficiencies in the process.
One of the major issues raised was the National Curriculum Council’s failure to provide hard copies of model textbooks despite prior commitments. As a result, publishers were compelled to submit their own versions, raising concerns about content consistency and adherence to the curriculum 2024 standards.
While a three-tier review system, comprising the Internal Review Committee (IRC), the Provincial Textbook Review Committee (PTRC) and the Select Committee (SC), was approved, previous experiences suggest that delays in execution could hinder timely publication.
Concerns over financial transparency also surfaced, as publishers are required to deposit review fees directly into designated accounts. While this aims to ensure timely compensation for reviewers, the lack of a centralized payment mechanism raises questions about oversight and possible mismanagement.
Additionally, reviewed manuscripts will be dispatched via Daewoo courier service with publishers bearing the associated costs, which could strain smaller publishers financially.
The meeting also announced a two-day training program for reviewers, jointly organized by KPTBB and DCTE to ensure textbook evaluations align with the curriculum 2024 guidelines.
However, details on funding, participant selection, and evaluation mechanisms remain vague, raising doubts about its effectiveness.
Furthermore, while formal agreements between KPTBB and publishers were proposed to streamline the review process, concerns persist over bureaucratic slowdowns that have historically delayed approvals.
While the KPTBB reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, efficiency, and maintaining high educational standards, unresolved challenges related to resource availability, financial accountability, and procedural delays could jeopardize the timely release of updated textbooks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Comments are closed.