Subsidised primary textbooks being sold at higher prices

A large number of primary school students have yet to receive the textbooks meant to be distributed for free due to a lack of coordination between the government bodies concerned.
Besides, books that are supposed to be sold at a subsidised price cost three to four times the rate.
The National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) did not take any measures to print additional textbooks even after being warned of the crisis.
Teachers, guardians and book traders believe the situation is the result of lack of coordination between NCTB, Directorate of Primary Education and primary and mass education ministry.
Leaders of Bangladesh Publishers and Booksellers Association say they did not get permission to print additional textbooks for primary level students even after applying to the authorities several times.
Besides, like previous years, a syndicate in connivance with dishonest NCTB officers has created an artificial shortage, forcing guardians to buy the books from the market.
The primary and mass education ministry in the first week of January had decided that primary schools attached to high schools would not be given free textbooks. Later, the rule was withdrawn, but most of the teachers, guardians and students were not informed.
Books available on the market were not enough to meet this additional demand.
"We have sent letters to the district and thana education officers to distribute free textbooks among all kinds of primary schools," said Mohammad Amzad Hossain, director of the primary education directorate.
"We also asked the officers to call the headmasters of the primary-cum-high schools and distribute books among them. What else we can do if the teachers, students and guardians are not informed about our latest decision," he added.
Academic activities of the new academic calendar began on January 1. But at least 30 percent primary schools, especially the institutions in extreme remote areas and primary-cum-high schools in metropolitan cities and district headquarters have yet to receive the textbooks.
During a visit to Chittagong Hill Tracts a few days ago, it was learned that most of the primary schools in Bandarban, Rangamati and Khagrachhari did not get fresh textbooks.
"Our schoolteachers have told us new books will come, but they couldn't tell us when exactly," said Gaganath Tripura, student of class IV at Kalapara Govt Primary School in Thanchi upazila, Bandarban.
Teachers and guardians in the capital allege the students have yet to get the free books and are now buying those at a cost three to four times higher than normal prices. Some of the guardians even cannot afford to buy all the needed books.
Some textbooks, especially on the Hindu and the Christian religion, have already been sold out.
"The wholesale price of each set of class V books is Tk 165, while books of class IV and III cost Tk 155 and Tk 160. A set of books of class II and I is being sold at Tk 70," said Md Ali, owner of Mousumi Book House at Bangla Bazar.
Retail prices of each set of class V, IV, III, II and I vary from Tk 410-Tk 450, Tk 320-Tk 380, Tk 270-Tk 190 and Tk 120-Tk 150 at Bangla Bazar. Outside the capital, each set of class V, IV and III books costs Tk 500-Tk 600, while a set of class II and I books is selling at Tk 180-Tk 200.
Bangladesh Publishers and Booksellers Association leader Shah Alam said they informed NCTB verbally on January 17, officially on January 20 and held meetings on January 22 and January 27 about the textbook crisis and distribution mismanagement.
He also said NCTB always gives subsidy on papers so that guardians can buy textbook at low prices.
"But this time, NCTB did not permit us for printing additional textbooks. Higher officials didn't allocate additional subsidy for additional textbooks, resulting in textbooks shortage and higher prices," he told The Daily Star.
A lack of coordination among the concerned authorities is the main reason behind the crisis, he observed.
Primary and Mass Education Secretary M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan refuted any lack of coordination among the government organs. He said students of primary-to-high schools had to face some problems initially in getting textbooks but they will get textbooks very soon.
NCTB Chairman Prof Dr M Masir Uddin said they have already started sending textbooks to the schools where books were not given.
He also said NCTB top officials held several meetings with publishers to resolve the textbook crisis in the market.
The upazila education offices are now supplying old books of previous years to meet the requirement, NCTB sources say.
But school children dislike old books and may even lose interest in studying, while many old books are not readable.
The dishonest dealers with the help of some NCTB officers have intentionally delayed distribution and arranged sales of the free primary textbooks, sources add.