Students get free textbooks

Distribution of free textbooks among the students of classes six to nine started yesterday, the first day of the new year.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formally inaugurated the textbook distribution through a video conference from the Gono Bhaban on Thursday.

The book distribution ceremony was held at the capital's Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.

Despite the novel coronavirus pandemic, the government has already taken all-out measures to distribute new textbooks among 4.5 crore students of the primary and secondary levels free of cost.

Jubilant students, at a primary school in Barishal city show off new textbooks they received yesterday, the first day of the new year. Photo: Star

However, no book festivals will be held this year marking the distribution of textbooks due to the pandemic.

The books will be handed over to the students at their respective educational institutions in 12 days to avoid any kind of gathering.

Prof Narayan Chandra Saha, chairman of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board, told BSS that changes were made to the cover of the books this time marking the "Mujib Year".

Photographs of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, great Liberation War, Language Movement and various development projects of the present government have been printed with captions on the back page of the textbooks, he said.

According to the primary and mass education ministry, the demand of textbooks for primary students in 2021 is about 10.25 crore.

A total of 213,288 books printed in special language will be distributed among 94,275 ethnic students (Chakma, Marma, Tripura, Garo and Sadri) of pre-primary to third grades. The books have been printed in five languages.

This time, Braille books will be distributed among 9,196 visually impaired students.

According to the education ministry, over 24 crore books will be printed for the secondary level students in 2021.

Syed Md Golam Faruk, director general of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education, said educational institutions across the country have been closed since March last year due to the pandemic.

Children look at their books at another school in Chattogram city. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the distribution of free textbooks on Thursday. Photo: Star

"Despite the coronavirus situation, we are trying to reach new books to students across the country on time," he said.

He urged the teachers, students and parents to follow hygiene rules while distributing books at the educational institutions.

The Awami League government celebrates "book festival" on January 1 every year with the aim of improving the standard of education and lowering the dropout rate.

In the last 10 years, about 331.47 crore primary and secondary level books have been distributed across the country.