Rangpur: Primary and Mass Education Adviser Professor Dr. Bidhan Ranjan Roy Podder has announced that primary level students will receive 100 percent of their textbooks by January. However, this year, the distribution will not be accompanied by the usual celebratory events. According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Dr. Podder addressed concerns regarding the quality of teachers appointed before the nationalization of primary schools in 2013, noting improvements in both the physical infrastructure of schools and the general quality of teaching staff. He made these remarks while speaking to local reporters at the inauguration of a two-day workshop organized by the Directorate of Primary Education at the RDRS premises. The event was attended by key figures such as the Director General of the Directorate of Primary Education, Dr. Md Abdul Hakim, Rangpur Divisional Deputy Director Md Azizur Rahman, and Assistant Director Nazrul Islam. The workshop, titled 'Fifth Phase Primary Education Development Programme,' sa w Professor Bidhan Ranjan participating as the chief guest. Professor Podder highlighted the disparity in teacher quality before and after the nationalization of primary schools, emphasizing the availability of training programs aimed at enhancing teachers' performance. He outlined the Directorate's primary goal of ensuring that students completing the fifth grade can proficiently read and write in their mother tongue and perform basic arithmetic operations. During his visits to government primary schools in Nilphamari and Rangpur, Professor Podder observed that while schools have good infrastructure and are well-equipped, student attendance remains below 100 percent. He noted that, despite the presence of teachers, students have not achieved the expected academic standards, a trend reflected in annual nationwide surveys. Addressing textbook distribution, Professor Podder expressed confidence that primary school students will receive all their textbooks by January, albeit without the traditional festivitie s. He also mentioned that while there are no major syllabus changes at the primary level, modifications have been made to third, fourth, and fifth-grade textbooks to include stories and illustrations depicting student and public uprisings.
