2027 academic year textbooks must reach students by December

The parliamentary standing committee on the Ministry of Education has directed that textbooks for the 2027 academic year be delivered to students by December 2026.

The instruction was given at the second meeting of the standing committee of the 13th National Parliament on Sunday. Committee president Md Selim Bhuiyan chaired the meeting, held in the standing committee room of the National Parliament building.

Committee members and Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan, Mosammat Tahsina Rushdir, Md Selimuzzaman Molla, Md Jahandar Ali Mia, Bithika Binte Hossain, Md Mujibur Rahman and Atiqur Rahman Mojahid took part in the meeting.

At the start of the meeting, the minutes of the previous meeting were approved and confirmed with amendments.

The meeting discussed the latest regulations on forming managing committees of private educational institutions, including the provision fixing a bachelor's degree as the educational qualification for committee presidents.

Members also pressed for the speedy disposal of pending applications for retirement benefits and welfare trust facilities for private teachers.

Hajj pilgrims and teachers suffering from incurable diseases should be given priority for quick payment, the meeting recommended, and retired teachers should be paid their retirement and welfare trust dues in phases, subject to the availability of funds.

The meeting was briefed on the activities of the Non-Government Teachers' Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA) on the appointment of principals, vice-principals, superintendents, assistant superintendents, head teachers and assistant head teachers of private institutions. It was informed that the oral examinations in the ongoing recruitment process will be completed by December.

The committee was also briefed on the overall activities of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB). At that time the committee directed that textbooks for the 2027 academic year be delivered to students by December 2026.

The overall activities of the National University were also discussed at the meeting. The parliamentary standing committee decided to investigate allegations of irregularities and corruption in various educational institutions.

The committee was also briefed on the Education Ministry's latest notification on the manpower structure of educational institutions. The NTRCA's latest decision on teachers registered from the 1st to the 12th registration was also presented at the meeting.

The committee then recommended completing the appointment process of teachers registered from the 1st to the 12th registration through a government executive order.