The release of the 2025 academic curriculum has sparked concerns among teachers, guardians, and education officials due to significant delays in the distribution of textbooks. As the new academic year is set to begin on January 1, students in primary, secondary, and higher secondary schools face the risk of not receiving their textbooks on time, potentially disrupting the entire academic schedule.
As the academic year approaches, the delay in textbook distribution casts a shadow over the smooth implementation of the 2025 curriculum. While the NCTB is working to address the backlog, it remains uncertain whether the full set of textbooks will be available on time. With Ramadan, Eid, and the summer break further complicating matters, educators and parents alike are concerned that students may face a disrupted academic year, making it harder to meet the curriculum goals and succeed in upcoming exams.
The National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB), responsible for printing and distributing the books, has acknowledged that it is behind schedule. Despite efforts to complete the printing by January, NCTB officials now admit that it will likely take until February to distribute the books for many classes. For some classes, particularly in secondary and higher secondary levels, the books may not reach students until March or even later.
According to the Ministry of Education’s draft curriculum, the academic year is structured with key dates for examinations. The half-yearly exams for classes VI to IX are scheduled for June 24 to July 10, with results to be published by July 27. The annual exams for classes VI to IX will begin on November 20, and the results must be published by December 30. However, the delay in distributing textbooks threatens to throw this carefully planned schedule into disarray.
Key Dates in the Draft Curriculum:Half-Yearly Exams (Classes VI-IX): June 24 - July 10, Selective Exams (Class X): October 16 - November 3, Annual Exams (Classes VI-IX): November 20 - December 7.
If textbooks are not available to students on time, completing the curriculum by these dates will be extremely challenging. In particular, the long holiday break between March and April, due to Ramadan and the Eid holiday, further complicates the situation.
The root of the problem lies in the delays in textbook printing. While previous governments began the printing process in April or May, this year, NCTB resumed printing only in late October, with tenders for book procurement delayed. In November, the government canceled previous tenders and called for new ones, which significantly hindered progress.
At present, only the textbooks for primary classes (1-3) are being printed, and the distribution is expected to be completed by December. However, the printing for classes 4-5 and secondary classes 6-10 has yet to begin in full. Even if the processes are expedited, NCTB officials concede that it could take until April to complete the printing and distribution for these higher-grade books.
Teachers are concerned about the impact of late textbook distribution on classroom activities. Md. Siraj Uddin, a senior teacher at Motijheel Ideal School and College, emphasized, “Classes cannot be held without books. Students do not even come to class without textbooks. It is difficult to engage them without the proper materials.” His concern echoes a broader sentiment among educators who worry that the delays will result in a lost academic semester.
Moreover, parents are also worried about the negative impact on their children’s learning. Rebecca Sultana, the mother of an eighth-grade student at Viqarunnisa Noon School and College, expressed frustration with the ongoing textbook delays. “The curriculum changes every year, and this time if my daughter does not receive her textbooks on time, how will she be prepared for the ninth grade? This is detrimental to her foundation before the crucial SSC exams.”
The delays in textbook distribution are compounded by the upcoming holiday season. From March 2 to April 8, educational institutions will be closed for 38 consecutive days due to Ramadan and Eid celebrations. This extended break, including weekly holidays, will make it impossible to hold regular classes, especially for students who still do not have their textbooks.
Even if students do return to classes in full swing by mid-April, they will face a compressed timeline to cover the syllabus before the half-yearly exams, scheduled to begin on June 24. As teachers have pointed out, the disruption to the academic calendar could make it impossible to finish the syllabus in time for the exams, especially given the summer break and Eid-ul-Azha holidays in June.
NCTB officials have assured that they are working to resolve the issue and will try to ensure that textbooks for classes 1-5 and select secondary subjects are distributed by January 1. However, textbooks for higher classes (6-10) may not be available until February or later.
NCTB Chairman Professor AKM Riazul Hasan stated, “We are trying to print and distribute the Bengali, English, and mathematics books for secondary students first. If this goes according to plan, we can distribute up to 10 crore books by January 1. The remaining books will be delivered later.”
In light of these delays, education experts suggest that the Ministry of Education and NCTB may need to reconsider the academic calendar to minimize disruption. A reduction in the number of holidays or adjustments to the exam schedule may be necessary to ensure that students have enough time to complete their coursework and revise before the exams.
Sahela Nasrin, principal of Motijheel Girls’ High School, said, “If the books are delayed, we will have to adjust our teaching methods and schedules. We are ready to work according to any new instructions from the Ministry of Education or NCTB to compensate for the loss of teaching time.”
Meeanwhile, the Ministry of Education has pointed to the changing circumstances as the primary cause behind the delay in printing textbooks for the 2025 academic year. Senior Secretary of the Ministry’s Secondary and Higher Education Department, Siddiq Jobayer, acknowledged that while textbooks were provided late, the Ministry is considering various measures to compensate for the potential academic setbacks caused by the delay.
Speaking to the press, Jobayer stated, “I have seen the proposed copy of the curriculum, but it has not been approved yet. We are currently evaluating the situation and will make a decision after discussing whether it’s possible to make some adjustments to the curriculum. Given the challenges, we will certainly take necessary steps to mitigate the disruption to students’ education.”
Jobayer emphasized that cooperation from all stakeholders, particularly teachers, would be crucial in addressing the issue. “Everyone’s cooperation is needed to compensate for the loss to students’ studies. Teachers can play the most important role in this process. We will issue the necessary instructions to ensure a smooth continuation of the academic year,” he said.
The delay in textbook printing, which has left many students without necessary learning materials, could lead to significant disruptions in completing the curriculum on time. The Ministry of Education is exploring options to adjust the academic calendar and make up for the lost study time. This includes the possibility of reducing holidays or extending school hours, though no formal decisions have been made yet.
The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSE), the body responsible for overseeing secondary and higher secondary education, is also involved in discussions to mitigate the impact of the delays.
Professor ABM Rezaul Karim, Director General (Additional Responsibilities) of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education, also weighed in on the issue. Speaking to the press, he confirmed, “We are fully aware of the situation. Discussions have already taken place within the Ministry of Education regarding the delayed textbook distribution. We are committed to implementing any instructions from the Ministry to address the issue and ensure that students’ academic progress is not compromised.”
Both Jobayer and Karim emphasized the need for cooperation from all stakeholders-teachers, students, parents, and educational authorities-to address the impact of the textbook delays. They stressed that while the Ministry works on compensation plans, teachers will have a pivotal role in delivering lessons efficiently and helping students catch up on lost time.
In response to concerns about the ongoing delays, the Ministry of Education is expected to issue formal guidelines and instructions for educational institutions, outlining how to proceed with the curriculum and examinations despite the setbacks.
The situation is being closely monitored, and officials are hopeful that the combined efforts of all parties involved will help minimize the academic disruption and ensure that students remain on track for their examinations later in the year.
While the Ministry is still in the process of reviewing the proposed curriculum for 2025, the ongoing delays in textbook distribution could force a reconsideration of key academic milestones. The possibility of changes to the curriculum or the academic calendar will depend on further consultations within the Ministry, as well as input from educators and other key stakeholders.
