Dhaka: As many as 35,21,97,882 free textbooks would be distributed among 4,26,19,865 primary and secondary level students on January 1 across the country in the academic year 2019.

‘All preparations for distribution of free textbooks have been completed….. We have been able to send textbooks to all schools across the country,’

National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) chairman Prof Narayan Chandra Saha said, reports the BSS on Sunday.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will formally inaugurate the free textbooks distribution festival at a function tomorrow.

The government distributed 35,42,90,162 textbooks among 4,37,06,895 pre-primary, primary, secondary, ebtedayee and SSC level students last year, Narayan said adding, ‘We have printed these textbooks on time by maintaining its standard…. All students from primary and secondary levels will get textbooks for free on the first day of the New Year.

‘We have directed authorities concerned to intensify their monitoring for successful distribution of free textbooks in the academic year of 2019,’ he added.

The government distributed 260.86 crore textbooks for free among the pre-primary, primary, secondary, ebtedayee and SSC level students in the last nine academic years, NCTB Chairman said.

In the past 10 years, he said, Bangladesh also made significant progress in education ‘fulfilling different global targets including achieving gender parity in education before scheduled time’ while distribution of books free of cost significantly contributed to checking dropout rate.

The education ministry sources said the free textbooks were distributed among students of pre-primary, (languages of ethnic groups), primary (Bangla and English version, secondary, ebtedayee, dakhil, SSC vocational/technical, brail for visually challenged students across the country.

‘This (festival) is the outcome of our (government’s) sincere commitment to reach the books on the first day of the year,’ a top official of the Education Ministry said.

Distribution of free textbook started since 2010 at both primary and secondary level, he said adding 260,85,91,290 copies of textbooks were distributed from 2010 to 2018, he added.

He said Bangladesh has set a rare example in the world through distribution of free textbooks among large number of students on the first day of January.