Ludhiana, April 3 -- Government schools in the district are facing a severe shortage of textbooks as the new academic session begins, leaving thousands of students without essential study materials. Out of the estimated requirement of 21 lakh books, only 12.5 lakh have been received so far, exacerbating concerns among educators about its impact on student learning and enrollment.

An official from the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) in Ludhiana confirmed that about 7.5 lakh books have been distributed across various blocks, but a significant shortfall persists. The delay has raised alarms among teachers, who fear students will struggle to keep up with lessons.

Tehal Singh Sarabha, secretary of the Government School Teachers' Union, ...