M M Jasim :
A good number of students of many schools across the country are yet to get all the textbooks.
As a result, the students are being deprived of proper learning since teachers are taking classes based on their experience in absence of textbooks.
According to guardians and students, many schools did not get textbooks yet of some major subjects like Bangla, Mathematics, Higher Mathematics, Science, Anondo Path and Agriculture.
Titu Hawlader, a student of Class VII of BIAM Model School and College, said he did not get Charu Path, Elementary Science, Mathematics, English for Today and Bangladesh Global Science books.
“I cannot study at home. I just follow class lectures. Our teachers also teach us from the old books,” Titu said.
Sushmita Biswas, a guardian whose son studies in Class VI at BIAM Model School and College, said, “I am worried about my son as I cannot help him at home. The school teachers told us that the book would be distributed within a short time. Although more than one and a half months have passed, the students did not get all the textbooks.”
Some of the school authorities said they could not hand over all textbooks to students as they are yet to receive those books, though 40 days have already been passed. Some of the school authorities said they have got some books recently and they will hand them over among the students.
Principal-in-Charge of BIAM Model School and College Professor Kalyanmaya Sarker said, “We have got the English version books for Classes VI, VII and VIII, but have not distributed them among students. We are yet to get the Higher Maths and Bangladesh and Global Studies books.”
“We also don’t know when we will get the remaining books. But the teachers are taking classes based on their experience,” he said.
Principal of the Motijheel Ideal School and College Dr Shahan Ara Begum said that they did not get some of the textbooks, such as Anada Path, which is hampering teaching. “Distribution of free books is good. But mismanagement in distribution is making the students suffer. How will the syllabus be completed in time?” she said.
Meanwhile, the National Curriculum Textbook Board (NCTB) officials blamed the mismanagement in distributing textbooks saying that there is no scarcity of books but “mismanagement.”
Controller of distribution of the NCTB Mushtaq Ahmed Bhuiyan said, “There is no shortage of books, but there might have been some mismanagement in distribution. So, some books might not have reached schools.
“We have sent letters to deputy directors of secondary education to co-ordinate distribution of books from the upazila to the district level,” he said.
“We have sent Ananda Path for Classes VII and VIII at the upazila level. Students will get it soon. If we get any news of shortage of books, we will take quick action,” he said.
