Govt preparing to distribute new textbooks in January: Bidhan

Primary and mass education (PMED) adviser Dr Bidhan Chandra Ray Poddar has said the government is preparing to distribute new textbooks among primary students in January.

“We’ve brought some modifications in the textbooks in the changed situation and work orders have already been given to print new books for primary students,” he said while exchanging views with the division-level officers at the divisional commissioner office of Sylhet. 

Chaired by additional commissioner of Sylhet division Debjit Singha, the meeting was addressed, among others, by PMED additional secretary Md Sakhawat Hossain, Additional director general of the Primary Education Directorate Abu Nur Mohammad Shamsuzzaman, deputy inspector general (DIG) of police, Sylhet range Md Mushfequr Rahman and commissioner of Sylhet Metropolitan Police Md Rezaul Karim.

“Book festivals were held on January 1 in the last few years but we are preparing to handover new books to the students in January next,” the adviser added.

Dr Bidhan said that the administrative structure of the country is very efficient and reliable. So, it did not break down during the July-August uprising, he added. He urged the officials of the division to work sincerely in carrying out the interim government’s reform activities.

The adviser said people from all strata of life are somehow involved in primary education and there will be problems if the primary education is not properly managed. 

Drawing the attention of the local government and engineering division, Dr Bidhan urged them to build a standard structure for the educational institutions and asked the local administration to oversee it.

Recently, the Ministry of Public Administration has approved a proposal for the creation of 9,572 posts for assistant headmasters in primary schools and after appointing these assistant headmasters, the assistant teachers will get their due promotion, he added.

The adviser also joined another view exchange meeting with field-level officers to find out the ways to develop primary education. He later visited the Sylhet Primary Training Institute (PTI).