Govt aims to deliver new textbooks to all students by Jan 1: Mahdi

While speaking at a workshop organised by the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) at the International Mother Language Institute auditorium to finalise the framework of four new textbooks for the 2027 academic year at the primary and secondary levels, he said textbooks are expected to be ready by mid-November to allow sufficient time for nationwide distribution.

Mahdi Amin said the final copies of the textbooks will be submitted to the Prime Minister within this month for review. “Based on his observations, further revisions, additions or modifications will be made before the books are sent for final publication,” he added.

Turning to the four proposed new books, he called for making the Learning with Happiness book more visual, interactive and engaging than conventional textbooks as part of the government's curriculum reform initiative.

The new book should include more illustrations, diagrams, tables and other visual elements to encourage students to learn with greater interest and enjoyment, the PMO spokesperson said.

“We want Learning with Happiness to be different from traditional text-heavy books. It should inspire students through visual presentation and make learning enjoyable,” he said.

The adviser said the textbook should also contain a comprehensive introductory chapter explaining its objectives, educational philosophy, practical application and relevance to the country's education system.

Highlighting the importance of technical and vocational education, he said social stigma surrounding vocational education remains a major challenge, discouraging many students, including those from well-off families, from pursuing it.

To address this, Mahdi Amin suggested including a background chapter in the vocational education textbook explaining its practical value in daily life and how technical skills can help solve real-world problems.

He said the government's long-term vision is to establish a technical education laboratory in every school – from remote rural institutions to the country's top urban schools – so that every student, including high-performing science students, receives at least basic technical education.

“Every student in Bangladesh should acquire some level of technical education,” the PMO spokesperson said, stressing the need to motivate students and parents about its importance.

Curriculum development is a continuous process and that revisions, additions and improvements are an integral part of preparing textbooks every year, he said.

Mahdi Amin also noted that experts have been working to identify and correct inaccuracies and historical distortions found in textbooks prepared during previous years, saying the government wants history to be presented objectively without political bias.

“Our goal is to ensure that history reflects facts through impartial analysis rather than being shaped to suit any particular narrative,” he said.

The adviser also thanked officials of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB), subject experts and all those involved in preparing the four new textbooks within a short period of three to four months.

There is still about a month available for further review and refinement before the books are finalised, he said, adding that Learning with Happiness remains the most significant among the four new subjects because it is closely linked to the core values of the country's education system.

The three other new subjects Sports, and Culture, and Technical and Vocational Education, reports UNB.