School text books must be student-friendly

School text books should be prepared through a tripartite understanding among teachers, students and text book developers, said discussants yesterday.

Dependency of learners on so-called guide books cannot be eliminated unless the book developers have a thorough understanding of the teaching-learning process, they added.

The discussion on students' expectations from text books was organised by the Campaign for Popular Education (CAMPE) at The Daily Star Centre in the capital.

CAMPE Executive Director Rasheda K Choudhury suggested undertaking an independent and in-depth research to find out the reasons why school students rely more on "guide books" than on the text books.

The government's commendable efforts at providing free text books to the students would remain fruitless as long as they read "guide books", she observed.

Recalling her experience of a visit at a secondary school in Narayanganj, Prof Mariam Begum, who is a member of a review committee of text books, said a teacher in fact was reading directly from a "guide" in the classroom while the students were following him.

Admitting the popularity of "guide books" among students, Chairman of National Curriculum and Textbook Board Prof Narayan Chandra Paul said making the text books "learner-friendly" should be the core aim while developing text books.

He added that the books are being improved gradually.

Teachers and students of different schools from across the country were present at the event.