DHAKA : The government has set a target to reach the revised textbooks to about four crore students across the country before the start of the 2027 academic year.

To this end, the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) is taking all-out efforts to ensure the supply of 100 percent high-quality textbooks to every upazila by November 30 next.

According to the Ministry of Education and the NCTB, the printing of textbooks for pre-primary, primary, and secondary levels is progressing in full swing at printing presses in Dhaka and various other locations across the country.

A ‘zero-tolerance’ policy regarding quality has been adopted at every stage - from the printing press to the receiving of books at the field level and to ensure delivery within the stipulated timeframe.

As part of the oversight process, a total of 53 monitoring teams, comprising officials from the Ministry of Education, the NCTB, and multiple intelligence agencies, are working at the field level.

Already, about 4,50,000 printed forma of the press and 27,000 substandard books have been cancelled and destroyed for failing to meet the quality.

Ministry officials said action would be taken not only against printing agencies but also against the officials and teachers receiving the books at the field level if any irregularities or negligence are found.

The government is determined to ensure that 100 percent high-quality and error-free textbooks reach the students on the very first day of the new academic year.

Talking to BSS, NCTB Chairman Professor Mohammed Fakhrul Mawla said the government is taking a strict stance regarding the quality of textbooks this year.

Due to failure to maintain quality standards, about 4,50,000 printed forma and 27,000 substandard printed books have already been rejected.

The ministry and the NCTB are working tirelessly to ensure that high-quality, error-free textbooks reach the upazilas by November 30, he said.

“While there may have been scopes for collusion between unscrupulous quarters at the printing presses and the field level in the past, this time the responsibility for directly verifying quality has been assigned to the concerned district and upazila education officers as well as the heads of institutions,” he said.

Mawla said if any discrepancy regarding the quality of the books is detected after delivery, the receiving officials will also face disciplinary action.

Update on textbook printing:

According to the NCTB’s production report dated September 22, a total of 30,71,98,101 copies of textbooks are scheduled to be printed for pre-primary, primary, Ebtedayi, secondary, Dakhil, and vocational/technical levels.

This total includes textbooks for students from ethnic minorities and the visually impaired students. Printing operations began a month earlier this year compared to last year, and the work is underway in full swing at various presses across the country.

A total of 42,66,253 copies (74.45%) out of 57,30,640 books required for the pre-primary level have already been printed. 

Besides, 2,80,78,996 copies (36.96%) out of 7,60,97,096 books for the primary level, and 1,52,64,400 copies (7%) out of 22,11,82,592 for the secondary level have been completed.

An official from the NCTB's distribution wing said printing for the pre-primary level is nearing completion, while distribution has already commenced in several upazilas, including Bancharampur and Sarail. 

“Textbooks will be delivered to all upazilas across the country in phases, achieving 100 percent delivery by November 30. Only textbooks for the English version and specialized books for ethnic minorities will be dispatched to the district level,” he said.

According to the NCTB, printing is currently in full swing at 91 presses nationwide, out of the 113 contracted by the government. To mitigate temporary power outages, generator backups have been made mandatory for large presses, and priority power supply is being ensured through coordination with local electricity departments. 

To ensure the GSM (paper weight) and printing quality of the new books, laboratory tests are being conducted alongside inspections by Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI) agencies. Recently, paper samples from nine presses underwent laboratory testing at the BCSIR and were found to meet quality standards. 

Three-tier monitoring & Intelligence surveillance:

NCTB officials said to prevent any lack of transparency, irregularities, or artificial shortages in the textbook printing and supply chain, multiple intelligence agencies have been deployed alongside special teams led by a group of NCTB officials.

They said a total of 53 monitoring teams from the NCTB and the Ministry of Education are working at the field level. Among those, 33 NCTB teams and 7 ministry teams are maintaining strict surveillance at printing presses. 

Additionally, 5 special teams, led by the NCTB Secretary and members, are taking immediate action against printing agencies based on real-time information from the field. Monitoring officials are stationed directly at the printing presses from 9:00 AM until late at night.

Zero tolerance:

The NCTB officials said to ensure the brightness (85%) and print quality of the paper for the new books, chemical and quality tests are being conducted through an appointed PDI agency, alongside NCTB's own supervision. 

Paper samples from nine printing presses, selected at random, have already undergone laboratory testing at the Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), and all samples were found to meet quality standards.

Education Minister Dr A N M Ehsanul Hoque Milon said textbooks made with substandard paper will not be tolerated at the upazila level.

The government has set a reasonable price after verifying market rates so that no one can use low costs as an excuse to produce substandard books, he said. 

The education minister said no printing press or individual involved will be spared if they fail to supply quality books on schedule.

NCTB member Professor Mohammad Abu Naser Tuku (Textbooks) said work is underway according to roadmap to ensure that textbooks reach the students on time.

Clear instructions have been issued to press owners to complete the supply of the books by November 30, he said adding teams deployed in the field are stationed at the printing presses daily to oversee the work. 

“Our primary objective is to ensure that students receive the complete set of books for their new classes on the very first day of the year,” the NCTB member said.