The government will ensure the distribution of about 36 crore new textbooks among the primary and secondary school students on time for the next academic year 2021 amid Covid-19 pandemic.
The tender procedure for distribution of the free textbooks of 2021 academic year could not be completed on time as the entire country was in lockdown due to the pandemic. Despite the effect of the virus, the work of printing the books has not been delayed. Publishing of textbooks is going on in full swing.
Employees of at least 400 printing houses (press) across the country are working 24 hours (day and night) maintaining physical distance, National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) sources said.
Like every year, 36 crore books will be ready before January 1 for four crore primary and secondary level students across the country.
Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni recently said, “The scheduled function for the distribution of the textbooks will not be held on first January due to the pandemic. However, books will be delivered to the respective schools on time.”
Out of 36 crore textbooks, at least 10 crore textbooks have already been printed and sent to the upazila level, NCTB sources said.
Narayan Chandra Saha, Chairman of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board told Bangladesh Post, “Our preparations have been completed. The presses are now busy in printing textbooks. Over the last 15 days, 30 percent books have been sent to different districts.”
About primary school books, he said, “We have been sending the textbooks at the upazila level directly from the press. All the textbooks at primary will be delivered by November.”
About secondary school books, he said, “There was a long delay in finalizing tenders for printing and binding secondary level books due to the corona situation. As a result, it was too late to start printing books at this level. Secondary school books have been sent to the district level since last week. All the books will be delivered by the last week of December.”
It is learnt that in 2021 academic year, about 36 crore books are being prepared for four and a half crore students of primary and secondary students.
NCTB officials are visiting the press and inspecting and supervising the printing activities.
According to printing (Press) organisations, this year, the raw material for printing did not reach the country on time. Printing activities have also been disrupted due to corona infection of workers. Despite all these obstacles, all kinds of preparations have been made to deliver books to all educational institutions.
AM Mansurul Alam, Director General of the Directorate of primary education, said, “The process of printing books for students and sending to the upazila level has already started. I am getting daily information. I hope, all the books will reach the educational institutions by December.”
Director General of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education Dr Syed Md Golam Faruk told Bangladesh Post, “We have taken all out measures to reach the books at all the educational institutions. NCTB is working in this regard. Although the inaugural function of textbook distribution will not be held, the students will get new textbooks on time.”
