Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Stakeholders have suggested that the government allow local units to print textbooks in order to ensure timely availability at schools throughout the country.
During a meeting of the Sustainable Development and Good Governance Committee of the National Assembly on Tuesday, Suprabhat Bhandari, president of the Federation of Parents, Nepal, suggested allowing local units to print textbooks as the state-owned Janak Education Materials Center (JEMC) is unable to provide textbooks to schools throughout the country in a timely manner.
“Students are not receiving books even after two weeks of the start of the academic session. This has been the case for the past many years,” Bhandari added.
However, Anil Kumar Jha, managing director of JEMC, argued that they can provide textbooks to all parts of the country in a timely manner if it is allowed to procure paper by amending public procurement laws.
“We were unable to print textbooks on time due to a shortage of paper last year. However, we are in a position to send textbooks to schools ahead of the next academic season,” Jha said, adding that JEMC was currently printing about 200,000 units of books on a daily basis.
