Books in hand on first day of new year, target to reach upazilas by 30 November

Photo: Collected

The present BNP-led government wants to hand revised textbooks to around 4 crore students of the country before the start of the 2027 academic year. To that end, the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) is making strenuous efforts to deliver 100 percent quality books to every upazila by 30 November.

The Ministry of Education and NCTB said the printing of books for the pre-primary, primary and secondary levels is progressing in full swing at printing presses in Dhaka and different other places of the country. To ensure the supply of books on schedule, a ‘zero tolerance’ policy has been adopted this time to maintain quality at every step, from the printing press to the receipt of books at the field level. For supervision, a total of 53 monitoring teams, made up of the Ministry of Education, NCTB and several intelligence agencies, are working in the field round the clock. For failing to meet the standards, around 4.5 lakh printed formas and 27,000 substandard books of different presses have already been rejected and destroyed.

Those concerned at the ministry said that this time not only printing firms, but also the officials and teachers receiving textbooks will be brought under punishment if any irregularity or laxity is detected at the field level during the receipt of books. The government is determined to deliver 100 percent quality and flawless books to students on the very first day of the new academic year at any cost.

NCTB Chairman Professor Mohammad Golam Fakhrul Mawla said the government is in a tough position on the quality of books this year. For lack of quality, around 4.5 lakh printed formas and 27,000 substandard printed books have already been rejected. The ministry and NCTB are working tirelessly to get 100 percent quality and flawless textbooks to the upazilas by 30 November.

He further said that although in the past there was scope for collusion by dishonest rings at the presses and at the field level, this time the district and upazila education officers concerned and heads of institutions have been given the responsibility of directly verifying quality at the time of receiving books. If any deviation in quality is found even after the books are received, the receiving officer concerned will also have to face punishment.

Latest picture of level-wise printing

According to NCTB’s production report of 22 September, a total of 30,71,98,101 copies of books will be printed for the pre-primary, primary, ebtedayee, secondary, dakhil, vocational and technical levels combined. These also include books for students of small ethnic groups and visually impaired students. This time the printing work has begun one month earlier than last year and it is progressing in full swing at different presses of the country.

Of these, the printing of 42,66,253 (74.45 percent) of the 57,30,640 books of the pre-primary level has been completed. At the primary level, 2,80,78,996 (36.96 percent) of 7,60,97,096 books have been printed, and at the secondary level 1,52,64,400 (7 percent) of 22,11,82,592 books.

An official of NCTB’s distribution wing said, ‘The printing of pre-primary level books is almost at the final stage. Supply of books has already begun in several upazilas including Bancharampur and Sarail. By 30 November, 100 percent of the books will be delivered in phases to all upazilas of the country. Only the English version books and the special books for small ethnic groups will be sent to the district level.’

NCTB said that of the total 113 presses contracted with the government, book printing is currently going on in full swing at 91. Generator backup has been made mandatory at the big presses to cope with temporary power outages, and power supply is being ensured on a priority basis in coordination with the local power division. To ensure the GSM of the paper and the printing quality of the new books, lab tests are also being done alongside the PDI (pre-delivery inspection) agency. Recently, paper samples of 9 presses were tested at BCSIR and found to be up to standard.

Three-tier monitoring and intelligence surveillance

NCTB said that, so that no lack of transparency, irregularity or artificial crisis is created in the textbook printing and supply process, several intelligence agencies have been put to work in the field alongside special teams led by a group of skilled NCTB officials.

The agency further said a total of 53 monitoring teams of NCTB and the Ministry of Education combined are working round the clock. Of these, 33 teams of NCTB’s own and 7 teams of the Ministry of Education are keeping strict watch on the printing presses. In addition, 5 special teams led by NCTB’s secretary and members are taking action against the printing firm concerned as soon as they receive information from the field. Monitoring officials are staying at the presses in person from 9:00am till night every day.

‘Zero tolerance’ to maintain quality

NCTB officials said that, to ensure the brightness of the paper (85 percent) and the printing quality of the new books, chemical and quality tests are being carried out through the appointed PDI agency alongside NCTB’s supervision. On a random basis, paper samples of 9 presses have already been tested at the Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR) and all have proved to be up to standard. For failing to meet the standards, around 4.5 lakh printed formas and 27,000 substandard books of different presses have been rejected and destroyed.

Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon said no substandard paper of any kind will be tolerated in the books supplied at the upazila level. The government has set a rational price this time after checking market rates, so that no one gets the chance to produce substandard books on the excuse of low prices. No printing firm or anyone concerned will be spared if they fail to deliver quality books on schedule.

NCTB Member (Textbook) Professor Mohammad Abu Naser Tuku said work is going on according to the roadmap to get books to students on time. Press owners have been given clear instructions to complete the supply by 30 November. The field teams are staying at the presses every day and supervising the work. In his words, ‘Our main goal is that students get the full set of books for their new class on the very first day of the year.’