Resolve the crisis over textbook printing in advance

Last year there was chaos over textbook printing. Because of delays in changing the curriculum and printing textbooks, students had to wait three to four months to get their books. In some schools, students received books in the middle of the year. There are also allegations that students in remote areas have still not received all their books.

In such a situation, according to news published in the media on Wednesday (3 September), a crisis has arisen again over textbook printing. Doubts have emerged as to whether students will get books in January 2026.

According to the information obtained, the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) has fallen into crisis over the plan to distribute textbooks free of cost to primary and secondary students in the next academic year. This year, because books were delayed by nearly three months in reaching all primary and secondary students, the education sector faced widespread criticism. Students’ studies were also disrupted. Keeping that experience in mind, this time NCTB had started the process of printing textbooks well in advance. The target was to print and distribute all books to the field level by November. But at the last moment, the tender for the textbooks of three secondary classes (sixth, seventh and eighth) was cancelled, throwing the entire plan into uncertainty. As a result, even NCTB officials themselves are not sure whether it will be possible to hand over all the books to students in January. In their opinion, it will be difficult to reissue tenders, print the textbooks of classes six, seven and eight, and deliver them to all students at the beginning of the year.

According to NCTB sources, about 8 crore 49 lakh 25 thousand books will be required at the primary level and about 21 crore 40 lakh books at the secondary level for free distribution next year. The total number of books this time is somewhat less than before. NCTB had almost completed the tender process and even finished the evaluation. But recently, in a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase, the tender for printing the textbooks of classes six, seven and eight was cancelled. However, NCTB has not been formally informed of the reason for this cancellation.

It is extremely regrettable that the government is showing such negligence in a matter as important as education. The fact that NCTB has not been formally informed why the tender was cancelled clearly indicates neglect of the education system. According to NCTB sources, the printing of books from pre-primary to class five has progressed significantly. The tendering, evaluation and approval processes have been completed. NCTB is now signing contracts with printers for the printing of pre-primary books. According to the rules, books must be supplied within 70 days after the contract is signed. Printing of books for classes one to three will also start soon. Although the tenders for books of classes nine and ten and the ibtedayi level of madrasas have been completed, they have not yet received approval from the Purchase Advisory Council. NCTB hopes this will be completed soon.

In one year, a class has to finish at least 10 books. Classes nine and ten get two years to complete their syllabus. These two years are extremely important at the secondary level. Even a single month is important there. The enormous damage they will suffer if they do not get textbooks in hand must surely be considered by the Ministry of Education.

Education experts are also saying how great the damage has been to students this year because of receiving textbooks late. In many cases schools have been forced to hold examinations without completing the syllabus, in some cases completing it only partially. As a result, many students have remained with incomplete understanding of many topics in the textbooks. This damage may prove impossible for them to recover from in future. Three months still remain before the year ends. We want textbooks to be delivered into the hands of students at the very beginning of the coming year, whatever it takes. There must be no negligence in this. For no reason, the government can avoid responsibility for this negligence.