Sankhuwasabha, August 26:

Schoolchildren in northern parts of Sankhuwasabha district have been without textbooks for the past five months.

Students and teachers go to the schools, take attendance and return home. This has become a routine of their daily life.

Out of eight subjects in each grade of the secondary level, students in Num, Pawakhola, Pathivara, Hatiya, Chepuwa, Makalu Kimathanka and other village development committees have only textbooks of two subjects.

Most of these village development committees are located in romote area of the district, as it takes seven days of walk from district headquarters Khandbari to reach Hatiya and Kimathanka village development committees, locals said.

“I have come to the district headquarters in search for textbooks many times. However, I was forced to return without books,” said Kingson Bhote, headmaster of the Arunodaya Secondary School in Chepuwa village development committee.

“Against the high demand, I receive books that could not meet the demand of students,” said Narayan Katuwal, a book dealer of the Sajha Publications.

“How could we pass the SLC exam as the books are not available yet?” local students said.