Textbooks Crisis In Sylhet

Study of school students hampered

23 January 2009, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent, Sylhet

Over three weeks into the start of the academic session, most of the high school students in the region are yet to get their textbooks. Insufficient number of books that are found in markets are selling at higher prices than government-fixed rates, said guardians. Besides, quality of paper and printing is also far below the official standard. “I got only three out of 14 textbooks for my son reading in class IX. I bought the books at much higher prices than the government-fixed rates. Besides, sellers have compelled me to buy guide books,” said Ataur Rahman, father of a class IX student of Sylhet Government Pilot High School. “My son has become frustrated failing to get all of his textbooks quite a few days after start of his classes,” he said. Sayeeda Akhtar, mother of a class VII student of Kishori Mohan Girls' High School, said, “Crisis of textbooks is a regular phenomenon every year. This is due to indifference of the authorities concerned.” The general secretary of Sylhet unit of Bangladesh Book Publishers and Sellers Association, Khalilur Rahman said, “Publishers are supposed to sell books to wholesale buyers with 22.5 per cent commission. But wholesalers are compelled to procure books at only 5 to 10 per cent commission. This is why many booksellers are realising extra money from buyers while some others sell guide books to them.” “Publishers have so far supplied only 25 to 30 per cent books of three subjects of four classes (VI to IX) to whole-sellers. They have failed to supply rest of the books on time to meet the great demand,” he said. Several sellers requesting anonymity said publishers had created the artificial crisis of textbooks through syndication to make windfall profit. They urged the authorities concerned to take immediate measures in this regard.