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In a volte face, govt grants JEMC sole right to print textbooks

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KATHMANDU, Aug 19: Janak Education Material Center (JEMC), which operates government-funded printing press for publishing public school textbooks, has been granted sole authority to print and deliver textbooks to schools across the country.

The Ministry of Education, which had allowed private publishers to print textbooks for grade one to five last year, took a u-turn by announcing the one-door policy in favor of the JEMC.


JEMC's Managing Director Anil kumar Jha said that the center would collaborate with Sajha Publication.

The JEMC has a huge responsibility to publish 35 million sets of textbooks by April so that students across the country do not have to enter their classrooms empty handed in the next academic session.

Often criticized for its failure to deliver textbooks on time, the JEMC authority claimed that the one-door policy would help bring a hoped-for turnaround.

"The sole responsibility means that we will be appreciated for good performance and criticized if we fail to deliver books," said Jha.

While the JEMC blames the Ministry of Finance for the delay every year in printing textbooks, this time the center said it has sufficient budget to start printing books on time, he claimed.

The center currently has Rs 350 million in its account that it could use to start the works, said Jha.

Likewise, collaboration with Sajha Publication is set to bring in Rs 150 million that JEMC owed to it from past deals.

"We have agreed to renew our relations Sajha after it committed to clear previous debts," said Jha.

The cost of printing 35 million sets of books has been estimated at Rs 2 billion.




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