Bhubaneswar: The academic session has begun long ago but schools across the state are yet to get enough textbooks.

Leaving with no other option, district administrations across the state are resorting to incorporate teaching-learning materials (TLMs) in the lessons as much as possible as an alternative to textbooks.

Ganjam district collector Vijay Amruta Kulange has requested all headmasters and headmistresses of the schools to develop TLMs.

"Apart from imparting lessons, TLMs plays a key role in helping students conceptualise matters," he said.

"The aim was to create alternate and innovative teaching structure that improves the traditional practice of classroom teaching," he said.

Elementary school teachers get Rs 500 per year as grant for use of TLMs from Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.

A number of schools have been complaining of lack of availability of textbooks supplied by the school and mass education Department.

Educators apprehend that the delay in supply of textbooks would cause obstacles for the school and mass education department to arrest the drop-out rate in primary schools, especially the ones located in rural and tribal dominated areas.

"Odisha government should come forward and provide free textbooks. The problem has been existing for a very long time," said educationist Poonam Naik.

From the current academic session, all visually-impaired students of classes IX and X in the state are supposed to be provided free Braille textbooks.

Earlier, the Odisha Primary Education Programme Authority was providing free Braille textbooks to all visually-challenged students from classes I to VIII in government-managed schools. From this year, this measure has been extended to students of classes IX and X as well.