The Ministry of Education has drafted the Education Act by banning the publication of note-guide books and allowing the publication of auxiliary books on a conditional basis. However, multiple publication agencies are violating the very same regulation and continuing to publish guidebook every year. This time, they are inviting teachers to attend to their discussion in Kaliganj Upazila of Gazipur district this Saturday, violating government regulation again.
It is to be mentioned that in 2020, Ministry of Education drafted an act to put a hold on the massive growth of guidebook culture in educational institutes across the country. Section 16 of the proposed draft of the Education Act states in the sub-sections 1 and 2 that one shall not print, bind, publish or market any type of note book or guide book. Violation of this provision shall be punishable with imprisonment not exceeding three years or with fine not exceeding five lakh taka or with both.
Nevertheless, many publishing organisations are frequently violating the direction of the ministry and continuing to publish guidebooks in guise of auxiliary books, which is somewhat allowed by Education Ministry. In addition, salespersons of these organisations across the country continuously trying to manipulate teachers of Primary and high schools to recommend these guidebooks to students, which is a clear violation to the revised education act. Sub-section 3 of the act states that if any teacher of an educational institution compels or encourages the students to buy or read notebooks or guidebooks, it shall be considered as misconduct and disciplinary action shall be taken against the concerned teacher, the head of the educational institution, the management committee or the concerned members of the management committee under administrative jurisdiction.
Recently, such one organisation named Popy Library Books planned to arrange a teachers’ discussion in Kaliganj upazila of Gazipur on October 22nd. Where the regulation says only government has the regulation to hold teachers’ training and discussion to inform, train and help them get up-to-date about the ongoing academic curricular, a private organisation such as Popy Library Books planned to do so to push their guidebook selling agenda towards teachers. Many teachers from multiple government primary schools including kindergartens in the upazila have been invited and offered travelling allowance to the programme.
However, contact could not be made with Gazipur Primary Education Office authorities.
Gazipur Sadar Upazila Education Officer Ansaruddin regarding this matter, commented that no private organisation has the authority to arrange such programme unless legally instructed by the government. There is no legal basis of such programmes and all teachers are instructed to avoid such invitation which violates regulations of Education Ministry. If any teachers join such programme, departmental actions will be taken against that individual.
