Textbooks are to be easier, intriguing
Says education minister
Textbooks under all education boards will be gradually made easier and intriguing for students, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid said yesterday.
A total of 12 textbooks for ninth and tenth grades have recently been revised so the students find those simple, easy-to-read and absorbing, he said. "The revised books have been printed and will be distributed for the upcoming school year”.
The minister made the comments while speaking with reporters after a meeting with top educationists of the country at education ministry in the secretariat.
Suggestions made by noted educationists have been incorporated in the newly revised textbooks, Nahid said, adding that they would organise a conference of teachers and students from all over the country to bring further changes in other textbooks.
Work is underway to reduce pressure of text books on students and to ensure teachers possess higher ethical standards and values, he also said.
Regarding incidents of question paper leak, Nahid said it had been happening for a long time, but these days the leaks are done mainly on Facebook and other digital mediums.
He, however, said due efforts are being made to curb further leaks of question papers.
Renowned writer Prof Abdullah Abu Sayeed, who was present at the meeting, said the country's textbooks are not as easy and stimulating as those are in the US.
Prof Sayeed, also the founder of Bishwo Shahitto Kendro, advised in the meeting that experts could first write textbooks with all necessary information. Afterwards, prominent writers such as Dr Muhammad Zafar Iqbal could rewrite those in an easy and interesting manner.
Dr Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, a writer and professor at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, said a few positive and qualitative changes were being made in preparing question papers and examining answer sheets.
Teachers are now more careful about using scientific methods while marking answer sheets. The reduced number of students securing GPA-5 in secondary school exams indicates that standards are being maintained during the answer sheet marking process, he also said.