Inefficiencies in distributing school textbooks in 2022: Report says

• Although the first term had begun on March 20, 2023, the Education  Department has been unable to supply 15,645,654 textbooks to the  distribution centers

By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama   

Despite the commencement of the first term on April 18, 2022, the distribution of textbooks to schools did not occur until December, as indicated in the 2022 Annual Auditor General’s Report.   

Accordingly, a total of 22,082,941 textbooks for Grades 1 to 11 were distributed during May and December of 2022.    

Hence, 67 percent of the textbooks, equivalent to 22,082,941 out of the 32,831,750 printed for 2022, could not be distributed on time before the commencement of the first term, the report said.   

Furthermore, the Department had entered into agreements with 23 printers in 2022 in order to print 32,890,400 textbooks for 2023.   

Although the first term had begun on March 20, 2023, the Education Department has been unable to supply 15,645,654 textbooks to the distribution centers.