Staff Reporter :
A majority of students are unable to access their textbooks due to political shifts, the cancellation of previous printing contracts, and a shortage of paper.
As the new academic year approaches, educational institutions are preparing to welcome students with fresh textbooks. However, significant issues in the educational sector have emerged, delaying the timely distribution of books.
The National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) has assured that at least three core textbooks—Bengali, English, and Mathematics—will be distributed to all students on the first day of the new academic year.
Students in grades one to three will also receive additional subject books alongside the core textbooks. Meanwhile, students in grades four through ten are expected to receive their three essential textbooks by January 1, with the remaining books to be delivered in phases. The full distribution is anticipated to be completed by January 20.
NCTB Chairman Professor AKM Riazul Hasan informed the media that many textbooks, particularly for grades four through nine, have yet to be printed due to numerous challenges. Despite efforts to accelerate the process, delays persist.
“We are hopeful that all students will receive at least three books on the first day of the year,” he stated. “Books for grades four and five will be completed by January 5, while additional textbooks for secondary grades will be distributed by January 10.”
These delays are attributed to several factors, including revisions to the curriculum following recent political changes, the cancellation of previous printing contracts, and a paper shortage.
NCTB sources report that while the printing of books for primary grades is on track, the production for secondary levels has been significantly slower.
Additionally, delays in finalizing contracts with printers have hindered the ability to meet distribution deadlines.
The tradition of distributing textbooks on the first day of the academic year has been in place in Bangladesh since 2010. However, recent years have seen delays in full distribution, and this year is no exception. According to NCTB figures, over 43.5 million primary school books have been printed, with 34.7 million already dispatched.
In secondary schools, 13.2 million textbooks have been distributed, but the bulk of the 309.6 million secondary school books remains undelivered.
As part of government initiatives, several changes have been made to the curriculum to enhance historical understanding and equip students with both hard and soft skills. For example, the topic of the ‘July Mass Uprising’ has been introduced in the new curriculum, replacing certain subjects from the previous academic syllabus.
In conclusion, while the textbook distribution for the new academic year has begun, full delivery may not be completed until February. Students can expect to receive at least three essential textbooks by January 1, with the remaining books arriving in the weeks that follow.
