<![CDATA[ Kerala School Textbook Delay: Classes 6 to 8 Books May Take 45 More Days, Says KBPS Union ]]> With just two weeks remaining before government schools in Kerala reopen for the new academic year, concerns are growing over delays in textbook distribution for students of Classes 6 to 8. According to the Kerala Books and Publications Society (KBPS) staff and employees union, the printing and binding process is far from complete, raising uncertainty for lakhs of students across the state.

K K Ibrahimkutty, president of the KBPS staff and employees union and a senior INTUC leader, stated that nearly 80 per cent of the required textbooks have been printed so far. Speaking to a television channel, he claimed that although the previous government had earlier assured that all textbooks would reach students before schools reopened, only around 20 per cent of the printing work had actually been completed at that time.

“After the media highlighted the issue, the process gained speed,” Ibrahimkutty alleged.

As per the latest figures shared by him, out of the total 3.57 crore textbooks required, approximately 2.85 crore books had been printed by May 18, accounting for nearly 80 per cent of the target. However, only around 2.48 crore books have completed the binding process so far.

He further explained that more than 71 lakh books are yet to be printed, while nearly 1.08 crore books still need binding. According to him, the current binding capacity stands at around 3 lakh books per day if machines function without interruption. At that pace, he estimated that completing the entire process could take another 45 days, followed by additional time needed for distribution to schools.

Ibrahimkutty blamed the delay on what he described as inefficiency and slow decision-making by the KBPS management. He alleged that pending payments to paper mills in Tamil Nadu delayed the supply of paper required for printing and binding.

“The management failed to inform the government on time about the crores pending to paper suppliers. Only after the issue came into public discussion did officials release Rs 7 crore to the mills,” he said.

He also claimed that the state government still owes nearly Rs 300 crore to KBPS towards textbook printing expenses.

According to the union leader, only the textbooks for Class 10 have been fully completed till now, while books for Classes 6 to 8 are still significantly behind schedule. He further alleged that the crisis may have been deliberately allowed to escalate in order to create administrative challenges for the new government expected to take office soon.

Meanwhile, the UDF has not yet announced ministerial portfolios or confirmed who will head the General Education Department, even two weeks after the Assembly election results were declared.

Earlier, then General Education Minister V Sivankutty had stated, nearly a month before the Assembly elections, that textbooks for all state-run schools would be distributed before the end of the 2025–26 academic year.

]]> en Thu, 05 21, 2026 11:49 am <![CDATA[ Kerala School Textbook Delay: Classes 6 to 8 Books May Take 45 More Days, Says KBPS Union ]]> With just two weeks remaining before government schools in Kerala reopen for the new academic year, concerns are growing over delays in textbook distribution for students of Classes 6 to 8. According to the Kerala Books and Publications Society (KBPS) staff and employees union, the printing and binding process is far from complete, raising uncertainty for lakhs of students across the state.

K K Ibrahimkutty, president of the KBPS staff and employees union and a senior INTUC leader, stated that nearly 80 per cent of the required textbooks have been printed so far. Speaking to a television channel, he claimed that although the previous government had earlier assured that all textbooks would reach students before schools reopened, only around 20 per cent of the printing work had actually been completed at that time.

“After the media highlighted the issue, the process gained speed,” Ibrahimkutty alleged.

As per the latest figures shared by him, out of the total 3.57 crore textbooks required, approximately 2.85 crore books had been printed by May 18, accounting for nearly 80 per cent of the target. However, only around 2.48 crore books have completed the binding process so far.

He further explained that more than 71 lakh books are yet to be printed, while nearly 1.08 crore books still need binding. According to him, the current binding capacity stands at around 3 lakh books per day if machines function without interruption. At that pace, he estimated that completing the entire process could take another 45 days, followed by additional time needed for distribution to schools.

Ibrahimkutty blamed the delay on what he described as inefficiency and slow decision-making by the KBPS management. He alleged that pending payments to paper mills in Tamil Nadu delayed the supply of paper required for printing and binding.

“The management failed to inform the government on time about the crores pending to paper suppliers. Only after the issue came into public discussion did officials release Rs 7 crore to the mills,” he said.

He also claimed that the state government still owes nearly Rs 300 crore to KBPS towards textbook printing expenses.

According to the union leader, only the textbooks for Class 10 have been fully completed till now, while books for Classes 6 to 8 are still significantly behind schedule. He further alleged that the crisis may have been deliberately allowed to escalate in order to create administrative challenges for the new government expected to take office soon.

Meanwhile, the UDF has not yet announced ministerial portfolios or confirmed who will head the General Education Department, even two weeks after the Assembly election results were declared.

Earlier, then General Education Minister V Sivankutty had stated, nearly a month before the Assembly elections, that textbooks for all state-run schools would be distributed before the end of the 2025–26 academic year.

]]> News 2 Thu, 05 21, 2026 11:49 am