One month into the new academic year, students in Chittagong are yet to receive all their textbooks. Some have received three books, others only two. While primary students in the Bangla medium have received one to three books, not a single book in the English version has reached the schools. In secondary schools, not a single book for classes nine and ten has arrived, while most others have received only three books.
Those concerned speculate that it may take until the end of February to get all the books. This delay has raised concerns about the inability to follow the class schedule, potentially leading to learning deficits for students, as expressed by experts.
In Chittagong, only 64% of the required books for the primary level and a mere 30% for the secondary level have arrived. The delay in the arrival of free textbooks is attributed to the political situation that arose last August, additions and deletions in the textbooks, and delays in awarding the printing contracts. Although it was previously assured that all books would be delivered by January, that did not happen. Authorities have advised teachers to collect textbooks from the NCTB website and conduct classes so that students’ education is not hampered.
According to the District Primary Education Office, all five thana education offices, except Chandgaon, have received 100% of the pre-primary books. Among 15 upazilas, no books have reached Hathazari, Fatikchhari, Raujan, Rangunia, Boalkhali, and Karnaphuli yet. Only the schools under Chandanaish upazila and Pahartali thana education office have received 100% of the Bangla medium books. The remaining thana education offices have received mostly 40% to 70% of their required books.
District Primary Education Officer S. M. Abdur Rahman stated, “Most of the books have arrived, only a few are left. About 65% of our total demand has been met. We hope to receive the remaining books soon.”
According to the District Education Office, the demand for books at the secondary level in Chittagong is 24,432,093 copies. The total number of students, including those in Ebtedayee, Dakhil, Dakhil Vocational, Secondary Vocational, and Secondary Bangla and English versions, is 1,686,994. Only 5.3 million books have arrived, which is only 30% of the demand. While all books for classes six and ten have arrived, only three books each for classes seven, eight, and nine have been delivered.
Chittagong District Education Officer Uttam Khisa said, “So far, 5.3 million books have arrived as per our demand. More books are coming. We have received all books for classes ten and six. Three books each for classes seven, eight, and nine have arrived. The way books are arriving, I hope all books will arrive within this month.”
It is worth noting that there are 4,066 primary schools in Chittagong with 1,004,632 students. The demand for new books is 4,418,187 copies. This includes 294,736 for pre-primary, 4,034,196 for Bangla medium, and 88,584 for English medium.
Across six thana education offices and all upazilas in Chittagong, the number of students from pre-primary to class five in Bangla medium is 985,534. This includes 147,368 in pre-primary, 838,166 in Bangla medium, and 18,790 in English medium. There is a demand for 671 books written in their mother tongues for 308 students from ethnic minority groups in Chittagong schools, which are provided to educational institutions under Sitakunda and the city’s Panchlaish thana education offices. Students from the Chakma, Marma, Tripura, and Garo ethnic communities receive books written in their native languages.
