School textbook distribution from January 1

Primary and secondary level students will get new textbooks on the very first day of 2018 as almost all of over 35 crore copies of free textbooks have already reached schools, said Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid yesterday.

“We have taken all out measures to distribute the books among the students on time,” he told reporters after visiting different printing presses at Matuail in the capital.

The minister said the number of students rose by more than 10 lakh this year, and therefore, they printed around 71 lakh additional copies of textbooks.

This year, the government will distribute 35,42,90,162 copies of textbooks among the students from class I to X.

Sources at the National Curriculum and Textbook Board, the apex body looking after the government's book distribution scheme, said around 98 percent of some 11 crore copies of primary textbooks have been printed and sent to upazilas as of Sunday.

On the other hand, around 85 percent of some 24.36 crore copies of textbooks for students of secondary schools have been dispatched to upazilas.

This year, the government printed 12 textbooks for class IX and X, which were modified to make those easier for students to learn.

He also said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the textbook distribution programme by handing over books to students at different levels on December 30.

The education ministry will open the festival at Azimpur Govt Girls School & College on January 1.