Directive Issued to Ensure All Textbooks For 2027 Academic Year Reach Students by December 2026

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Education has issued strict instructions to ensure that all textbooks for the 2027 academic year reach students by December 2026. The committee has also called for regulations setting a bachelor’s degree as the minimum educational qualification for chairpersons of managing committees of private educational institutions.

It has also recommended expediting the recruitment of teachers who hold registration certificates from the 1st to the 12th NTRCA registration examinations through an executive order of the government. These decisions and recommendations were made at the committee’s second meeting, held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Sunday (November 8). The meeting was chaired by the committee’s Chairman, Md Selim Bhuiyan.

Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon, a member of the committee, attended the meeting. Other members present included Mosammat Tahsina Rushdir, Md Selimuzzaman Mollah, Md Jahandar Ali Mia, Bithika Binte Hossain, Md Mujibur Rahman and Atikur Rahman Mojahid.

At the beginning of the meeting, the minutes of the previous meeting were unanimously approved with amendments. The members then held detailed discussions on key issues concerning the country’s education sector and related administrative matters.

The committee directed the authorities to settle pending applications for retirement benefits and welfare trust benefits for teachers and employees of private educational institutions without delay. It particularly stressed giving priority to applications from teachers planning to perform Hajj and those suffering from serious illnesses, and arranging prompt payments to them.

The committee also recommended paying the dues of other retired teachers and employees in phases, subject to the availability of government funds. The meeting reviewed the progress of the Non-Government Teachers’ Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA) in recruiting principals, vice-principals, superintendents, assistant superintendents, headteachers and assistant headteachers at private educational institutions. The committee was informed that all oral examinations under the ongoing recruitment process would be completed by December.

After reviewing the overall activities of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB), the committee instructed the Ministry of Education to ensure that textbooks for the 2027 academic year are delivered to students by December 2026. The ministry was also asked to take the necessary steps to ensure printing and distribution within the deadline.

The committee was briefed on the overall activities of the National University and allegations of irregularities and corruption at various educational institutions. It decided to conduct its own inquiries and investigations into alleged irregularities at these institutions.

The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) also presented its overall activities. The committee was briefed on the Ministry of Education’s latest position regarding teachers and employees of non-MPO-listed institutions. It also reviewed the latest government notification on the staffing structure of educational institutions and the steps taken by the NTRCA concerning teachers holding registration certificates from the 1st to the 12th examinations.

After reviewing these issues, the committee strongly recommended recruiting teachers from the 1st to the 12th registration batches through a government executive order. The committee urged the Ministry of Education to take urgent and effective measures to improve the quality of technical education. The overall activities of the Chittagong Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education were also presented at the meeting.

The senior secretary of the Ministry of Education, representatives of the University Grants Commission of Bangladesh and the Bangladesh Accreditation Council, and senior officials from the National University, NTRCA and NCTB attended the meeting, along with relevant senior officials of the Parliament Secretariat.