Ministry asks NCTB to use BG Press, if needed

As the government wants to deliver textbooks to primary students on time during the election year, the primary and mass education ministry has asked the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) to take help of BG Press, if necessary, if the NCTB-listed presses cannot finish printing textbooks on time.

Every year, a section tries to create hurdles in the delivery of textbooks. Because of this, the NCTB faces many obstacles to printing and delivering books on schedule.

As this year is the election year, with the polls likely to be held in December or January 2024, the primary and mass education ministry has requested everyone’s cooperation so that no one can create obstacles to the timely printing and delivery of textbooks.

This came at a recent inter-ministerial meeting organised by the ministry. The meeting discussed the challenges of textbook printing and delivery as well as how to solve those.

At the meeting, the ministry asked the NCTB to complete this year’s textbook manuscripts for the second and third grades by March 31. The NCTB chairman was asked to take necessary steps in this regard.

Prof Md Farhadul Islam, chairman of the NCTB, told The Business Post the board diligently prints and supplies textbooks every year but there could be some errors due to various obstacles.

“Now if the government wants, BG Press will be involved in this so that errors can be removed and textbooks can be delivered on time,” he said.

Textbooks for the second and third grades will be revised this year under the new curriculum. The manuscripts of class 2 textbooks are being prepared, which will be completed by this month. However, the preparation of manuscripts of class 3 textbooks will start soon, and it may not be possible to finish that by March.

Sources said the NCTB last year faced challenges in the timely printing and delivery of textbooks due to paper shortages, the global situation, and formulation of the new curriculum as well as the preparation of textbook manuscripts accordingly.

Due to national elections at the end of this year or early next year, textbook printing is expected to face new challenges. As a result, the NCTB has been asked to be more careful to ensure the timely delivery of textbooks.

Md Zakir Hossen, state minister for primary and mass education, said, “To ensure timely printing and delivery of quality textbooks in the future, bringing the task of textbook printing under our ministry will be brought to the attention of the prime minister. Steps will then be taken according to her instructions.”