Students and parents in Gujarat will now be able to purchase school textbooks online through Amazon India, following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Gujarat State School Textbook Board and Amazon India.
The MoU was signed in Gandhinagar in the presence of Gujarat Education Minister Dr. Pradyuman Vaja. The initiative is aimed primarily at students of private and self-financed schools, allowing them to order textbooks for students online and have them delivered directly to their homes.
Gujarat School Textbooks To Be Available On Amazon
Under the partnership, textbooks published by the Gujarat State School Textbook Board for different classes and mediums will be made available on Amazon India.
Students and parents will be able to search for and order the required textbooks online, providing an alternative to purchasing books from retail outlets and authorised distributors.
The government has also stated that no additional delivery charges will be levied on these textbook orders. The books will be delivered to students’ homes at the printed price mentioned on the textbooks.
The facility is expected to be particularly useful for students who need to purchase textbooks beyond those provided free of cost by the state government.
1.5 Crore Textbooks Supplied Every Year
The Gujarat State School Textbook Board supplies around 1.5 crore textbooks every year to students studying in self-financed schools across the state.
At present, these books are distributed through authorised distributors and book retailers. The partnership with Amazon will provide an additional online channel through which students and parents can purchase the textbooks directly.
The government expects the initiative to reduce crowds and long queues at bookstores, particularly during the beginning of the academic session, when demand for textbooks is typically high.
Education Minister Dr. Pradyuman Vaja described the initiative as an important step towards “Ease of Education” in the digital era.
Amazon India said the partnership is aimed at making quality educational material more accessible and affordable for students and teachers across Gujarat.