98 percent textbooks reach Upazilas

Around 98 percent of free textbooks meant for distribution among school students reached the Upazila headquarters by Dec 24, a week before the beginning of a new year, says the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB).

Board Chairman Md Abul Kashem Miah told bdnews24.com on Wednesday that the remaining books will arrive at the Upazila headquarters ‘in a day or two’.

The government plans to distribute around 326.35 million books among 44.40 million students at the primary, junior secondary and secondary levels in the 2015 academic year, beginning on Jan 1.

For the past seven years, the Awami League government has been distributing new books among the students on Jan 1, the day it celebrates as ‘book festival’.

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid said he was happy that textbooks had reached all parts of the country before the New Year.

He told bndews24.com that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina would inaugurate the celebration by handing over books to students at different levels on Dec 30.

He said education, and primary and mass education ministries would jointly hold the festival at Motijheel Govt Boys’ High School on Jan 1.

The NCTB chairman said all books for secondary-level students, and 98 percent books for primary and junior secondary pupils had already reached the Upazila headquarters.

The remaining books would arrive at Upazila headquarters by Dec 26, he added.

Upazila education officers have received the books from the ministries and will distribute them among the students with the help of the Upazila administration.

The ministers had begun despatching the books to the Upazilas in June after they were published in phases.

Miah admitted paper quality of ‘some books’ was below standard and that ‘some books’ were damaged during transportation.

He, however, said: “There will be no problem if some books are damaged, as five percent extra books are there in buffer stock.”