Despite the start of a new academic year on Saturday, a large number of textbooks for the secondary level have not been printed as yet, mainly owing to the complications involving the tender process concerned.
Some 347 million copies of textbooks are being distributed among around 41.7 million students up to the secondary level from pre-primary level across the country in the 2022 academic year.
However, for the second year on the trot, the annual festival marking the textbook distribution has been cancelled this time considering the emergence of the Omicron variant of coronavirus.
Students across the country started to receive the free books their respective classrooms maintaining health protocols from Saturday, according to National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) officials.
As of December 30, out of nearly 250 million books for the secondary level, some 219 million copies have been printed and distributed, said NCTB Member (textbook wing) Prof Forhadul Islam.
He went on saying that the printing was hampered by some issues including those related to the tender process.
“The printing of the books and their distribution will be done by this week,” Forhadul hoped.
Meanwhile, all primary level books (nearly 100 million) have already been distributed.
Citing the same reason behind the delay in printing books, NCTB Chairman Prof Md Mashiuzzaman said that they had to float multiple tenders for printing books.
“Many tenders had to be recalled as the bidders charged higher than usual, causing the delay in the printing process,” he added.
The NCTB chief, too, is optimistic that the pending books will be printed this week.
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