In a move set to ease financial pressure on families and promote responsible use of resources, the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) has announced the establishment of book banks in all Islamabad model schools and colleges.
The new system will officially roll out from the 2026–27 academic session, covering both boys’ and girls’ institutions across urban and rural areas.
A Cycle of Sharing
Under the policy, students will be asked to return their government-provided textbooks at the end of the school year, before final exam results are declared. These books, once collected, will be carefully redistributed to the next batch of students free of cost.
Only those who return their books in usable condition will qualify to receive new sets, encouraging a sense of responsibility and care.
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This measure aims to tackle recurring shortages of free textbooks, while also helping families—particularly those from low-income backgrounds—who often struggle to buy replacements. Officials hope the initiative will nurture a culture of sharing, preservation, and respect for learning materials among students.
How It Will Work
School heads have been instructed to design clear standard operating procedures (SOPs) for collecting, stacking, and organizing the books subject-wise. Proper records will be maintained to ensure transparency, with Area Education Officers monitoring the entire process to make sure guidelines are followed.
The FDE emphasized that the project is not just about distributing books but about incorporating values of accountability discipline and community support in the education system.
Beyond Textbooks: A Greener Future
Education officials kept on highlighting the environmental benefits of the scheme. By reusing textbooks, schools will help in minimizing paper consumption and printing, making the initiative a small yet meaningful step toward sustainability.
For many parents, this policy means fewer worries about the rising costs of school supplies. For students, it offers a reminder that the books they hold today will one day guide another child’s learning journey.
Approved by the Director of Academics & Quality Assurance, the directive is marking a new chapter in how Islamabad’s schools manage resources—one rooted in sharing knowledge, saving costs, and protecting the environment.