New textbooks are handed over to students on the first day of the year. The new academic year also starts from that day. This time too, the academic year will start on January 1 as per the academic calendar. However, most students will not get their textbooks on the first day of the year. The government is in a ‘grave crisis’ over printing and distribution of free textbooks. As a result, doubts have arisen as to when it will be possible to hand over all the books to the students.
National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) sources told Daily Industry that this time, the work of printing about 40 crore 16 lakh books is underway for students from pre-primary to class 10. Of which, the number of pre-primary and primary books is 128,67,752.
The number of books for classes 6 to 9, i.e., secondary level, is 286,22,337. In addition, more than 8,500 braille books are being printed for the visually impaired. On the other hand, about 41 lakh ‘teacher assistants’ will be provided for teachers.
According to sources from the printing house owner, the Printing Industry Association and NCTB, the work of printing and binding of a little less than 4 crore textbooks has been completed till Wednesday (December 25) afternoon. As a result, more than 36 crore books still need to be printed and bound, which will require at least two more months to complete and deliver the books to the schools.
If that is the case, the government will not be able to hand over the textbooks to the students before March. At that time, i.e. from March 2, the long Ramadan and Eid holidays will begin. After the holidays, the schools will open on April 8. As a result, students will not be able to sit in class with books in full swing before then. The curriculum will also be reversed. Students will definitely lag behind.
Textbook Board officials said that the printing of books has been slowed down due to the long time it took to re-tender several lots of books for the three primary classes, new tenders, NOA (Note of Award), and approval by the purchase committee. Moreover, printing house owners are also bringing up the issue of paper shortage at the end of the year.
‘Big crisis’ surrounding printing of books for sixth-ninth classes
The printing of books for the first, second, and third classes of primary is nearing completion. Books for these three classes have already been sent to many upazilas. However, the printing of books for the fourth and fifth classes is slightly behind schedule. NCTB officials and printing house owners believe that it will be possible to deliver these two classes by January.
On the other hand, NCTB officials are worried about secondary textbooks. Although the printing of books for the tenth class has been taken forward for special reasons, NCTB is in a state of confusion regarding books for the sixth to ninth classes. The manuscripts of some classes have not yet been sent to the printing house. Students may have to wait until April to get all the books for classes VI to IX.
NCTB sees ‘conspiracy’ of printing house owners
The current president of the Bangladesh Printing Industry Association is Rabbani Jabbar. He is the younger brother of Mustafa Jabbar, a former minister in the Awami League government. He was also active in Awami League politics. In 2021, Rabbani Jabbar was elected chairman unopposed as the Awami League’s nominated candidate in the Khaliajuri Upazila Parishad by-election in Netrokona.
Moreover, there are many people active in Awami League politics and beneficiaries under the leadership of the Printing Association. NCTB related people complain that they are delaying the printing of books by giving the excuse of late delivery of work. In addition, they are also obstructing the printing and binding of textbooks by creating an artificial shortage of paper in the market.
In a recent letter to the Education Advisor, Junaydullah Al Mahfuz, Vice-Chairman of the Printing Industry Association, made it clear that ‘all the books will not be printed before March 25’. In the letter, he mentioned, ‘Time is needed till March 24 to print the textbooks for 2025. It is not possible to complete the printing work before that.’
The NCTB is being scolded by the leaders of the Printing Association and the printing press owners’ syndicate for this stance. The officials of the organization see it as a ‘conspiracy’ against the interim government.
When asked, NCTB Chairman Professor Dr. AKM Riazul Hasan told Daily Industry, ‘There is no problem with the books of the first, second and third classes of primary. There will be some delay in completing the work of the secondary books. We want to hand over at least three books to students of all classes on the first day of the year.’
Complaining that printing house owners are conspiring to print textbooks, he said, ‘We have started work a little behind schedule this time due to the overall situation. However, the printing house owners are not supporting us spontaneously. If they had cooperated, there would have been no crisis. If anyone conspires to issue textbooks, the government will take strict action against them.’
‘Sensitive’ issue, printing house owners keep their mouths shut
However, despite attempts to talk to the leaders of the Bangladesh Printing Industry Association about the delay in printing books, their comments were not received. Some printing house owners who are not under the leadership of the association also refused to speak to the media. They also said that they consider the ‘issue of printing books’ and the time ‘very sensitive’.
A member of the current executive council of the association told Daily Industry on condition of anonymity, “The government is pressuring us to go beyond the rules and print the books quickly. According to the tender rules, the books are supposed to be delivered in April when they gave the work. Still, we are working in the interest of the nation. But the government has started coercion on us.” He said, “No matter how much pressure the government puts or tries, it is not possible to deliver all the books before March. It will be almost April to deliver all the books to the schools. If the NCTB does not accept the reality, the opposite may happen.”
