LARKANA: A special secretary of education department on Wednesday began probe into reports of open sale in the town`s markets of textbooks published by Sindh Textbook Board for free distribution in government schools.

Special Secretary (admin, coordination & law) Syed Imdad Ali Shah, who was appointed by secretary of education as inquiry officer to look into reports of textbooks` sale in Larkana and other districts of the province, not only visited the textbooks` warehouse but also met the vendor who had allegedly purchased textbooks from an unknown person.

The secretary found only 34 textbooks of Mathematics and Science of 2023 editions in seven sacks. The officer also met education department`s officials and visited different schools to assess their needs.

He told journalists during his visit that he suspected some children might have sold their books in the market.

He pointed out lacunas in the publication of books and said schools` demands were submitted late while the books were printed prior to receipt of the demands.

Therefore, students received books late often when examinations were getting closer, he said.He said the new academic year would now start from April and this time free distribution of textbooks by the board would be ensured by the first or second week of April after gathering relevant information regarding students` enrolment in schools.

He said that recruitment process in the light of 2021 and 2023 tests was in process and would be completed by February. There was no shortage of teachers but still around 9,000 seats were presently lying vacant in schools, he said.

The secretary said that reshuffling of 25,000 to 30,000 teachers in the light of a report from a committee currently working on student-teacher ratio in the province would be made through a single order within a fortnight. The teachers in excess in one school would be transferred to other schools with vacancies, he said.Correspondent