Surat: The new academic year of 2025-26 for schools in Gujarat is set to begin on June 9; however, textbooks for Classes 1 and 12 are still not available in the market. Students are likely to face difficulties attending school without books. The shortage is widespread across the government and private schools in the Surat district, with many local bookstores reporting that they have yet to receive adequate textbook stock from the Gujarat State School Textbook Board.
According to some sources, parents and school administrators are increasingly concerned about this situation. Parents are worried that their children will fall behind as classes resume without access to proper learning materials. The reports indicate that even the State Education Department’s online book portal is experiencing delays, and the stock distribution process is notably slow this year.
There is a shortage of English-medium and special edition textbooks, while prices for available books are reportedly rising. Parents are now being forced to purchase incomplete sets or older editions to avoid gaps in their children’s education. Many local bookstores and vendors have confirmed that they have been receiving constant inquiries and complaints from parents but are unable to provide a timeline for the availability of the required books.
The Gujarat State School Textbook Board had previously announced that 80% of the textbook stock had already been dispatched; however, in reality, a large number of schools and vendors still haven’t received them. This situation could cause significant disruption to the learning process in the initial days of the academic year, with schools forced to start classes without complete textbooks. The Education Department and GSTB are urged to expedite the supply to ensure smooth academic operations.
