Phidim, June 17 Though over two months have elapsed since the beginning of this year’s academic session, hundreds of students in various schools of Panchthar district have been facing shortage of textbooks. The schools have issued notices for first terminal examinations supposed to begin from the first week of July, but students of Grade VI, VII, and IX have yet to receive their textbooks. Students in Ilam, Taplejung and Panchthar districts of Mechi zone are facing textbook crunch after Janak Education Material Centre, Biratnagar failed to dispatch textbooks to the districts. According to students, textbooks of science, English, social studies, Nepali and computer for Grades VI and VII are in short supply. Likewise, textbooks of economics, population, science, Nepali and English for Grade IX are not available in the market. Principal of Phidim Higher Secondary School Durga Raj Khatri said teachers were taking classes despite the textbook crunch. However, students are facing a hard time preparing for their upcoming test for want of textbooks, he said. Bhagirath Poudel, owner of a stationery in Phidim bazaar, said around 10,000 school students were deprived of textbooks. “Though we have already made payment, Janak Education Material Centre, Biratnagar has not dispatched the books yet,” complained Poudel. He added that the centre only provided books to their near and dear ones. “Though we have been trying to contact storekeeper Parshu Ram Subedi of the centre, he doesn’t cooperate,” he said. Around 500 sets of textbooks were dispatched to Panchthar district in mid-May, and schools in the district headquarters Phidim and its adjoining areas had purchased the textbooks. However, schools in the far-flung areas of the district are reeling under textbook shortage. School supervisor Saligram Kafle said they started monitoring schools and book shops after a large number of students complained of textbook crunch.