Dhaka: Primary and Mass Education Adviser Professor Dr. Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar said that due to new book tenders and reforms, the book festival will not be held on January 1 like in previous years. However, he assured that books will be delivered to primary students within January.
The Primary and Mass Education Adviser gave this information in response to a question from journalists after a view-sharing meeting with divisional level officials at the conference room of the Khulna Divisional Commissioner's Office on Sunday (December 8).
Dr. Bidhan Ranjan Roy said that a tender was given to a country to print a book, but it has been canceled. Several reforms and additions are being made to the new book. Due to which there is some delay in printing the book. Various images of the mass uprising will be highlighted in the new book.
The Primary and Education Adviser said that apart from this, other problems of primary education including stipends will also be resolved in phases. All primary schools in the country will come under the mid-day meal scheme in phases within the next five years. In the first phase, it will be launched in all schools in 150 upazilas of the country.
Dr. Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar also said that the allocation to the education sector in Bangladesh is the lowest in South Asia, only two percent of the budget. But according to UNESCO, the allocation to the education sector should be six percent of the budget. Improving the financial and social status of teachers is the need of the hour.