Teachers and guardians are grappling with uncertainty about how to adhere to the Education Ministry’s proposed academic calendar for 2025, given that textbooks may not be available until March or April.
Each year, the government releases an academic calendar detailing the schedule for classes and exams across primary, secondary, and higher secondary levels. For 2025, the Ministry of Education's draft calendar sets January 1 as the start of the academic year, with half-yearly exams scheduled for June and annual exams in November.
Textbook printing delays
The National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) has yet to begin printing books for seven classes, even as mid-December approaches. Teachers and parents fear that delays in textbook distribution—potentially until March or April—will derail the academic schedule.
NCTB aims to distribute all books by February if January isn’t possible. However, printing for classes 6 through 10 is unlikely to start before late December, and books for higher classes might take until April to print and distribute.
NCTB Chairman Prof AKM Riazul Hasan said, “We are prioritising Bengali, English, and mathematics books for secondary students to distribute at least some by January. The rest will follow as soon as possible.”
Draft academic calendar
The proposed academic schedule for 2025 includes:
Half-Yearly Exams: June 24–July 10
Pre-Selection Exams (Class X): June 24–July 10
Elective Exams (Class X): October 16–November 3
Annual Exams (Classes VI–IX): November 20–December 7
Results are to be published shortly after each exam.
Exams are designed to finish within 12 working days.
Impact of late textbooks
In previous years, most students received their textbooks on January 1. While the first 15 days of the year were often marked by a lack of activity, regular classes would typically begin in full swing by January 15.
This year, however, teachers fear a different scenario. They believe that without books, students will lose motivation to attend classes, and even those who do attend will face difficulties. Conducting lessons without textbooks is a significant challenge.
Md Siraj Uddin, a senior teacher at the main branch of Motijheel Ideal School and College, shared his concerns with Jago News, saying, “Classes cannot be conducted without books. Students don’t even come. Only when they have their books can classes be conducted effectively. Based on reports in the newspapers, it seems unlikely that students will receive all their books before March. If this happens, students will suffer.”
Hafsa Akhter Maya, a class VIII student at Viqarunnisa Noon School and College, echoed these concerns through her mother, Rebecca Sultana. Rebecca said, “Nothing significant happened in class six and seven. The curriculum in class seven was partially updated, then changed again. If students don’t receive their books on time in class eight, how will they build a strong foundation? Next year, they’ll be in class nine, preparing for SSC.”
Expressing frustration, Rebecca added, “Those responsible for education seem unconcerned. Parents are left with all the worry. Why is the book printing process delayed? Is it an issue with approvals? We’re under a neutral government now—why is this still happening?”
Ramadan, Eid, and summer breaks
Even if books arrive in March, uninterrupted classes won’t be possible until April due to Ramadan and Eid holidays, which will close schools from March 2 to April 8.
The summer break and Eid-ul-Azha holidays in June further cut into teaching time. With half-yearly exams starting June 24, teachers fear there won’t be enough time to complete the syllabus.
Ahsan Ullah, the acting headmaster of Government Laboratory High School in the capital, told Jago News: “If the government does not reduce the holidays, there will be no classes during that period. As a result, full-fledged classes cannot begin before April 10.”
Even with the books in hand and classes starting in April, completing the syllabus before the half-yearly exams will still pose a challenge. The academic calendar schedules summer and Eid-ul-Azha vacations from June 1 to June 19, leaving little time for uninterrupted teaching before the half-yearly exams begin on June 24.
Sahela Nasrin, Principal of Motijheel Girls High School, told Jago News: “If there is a delay in distributing books, we won’t be able to conduct many classes before Ramadan. After Ramadan and Eid holidays, schools will have only about six weeks before the summer and Eid-ul-Azha breaks. This will cause further challenges. If the Ministry of Education or NCTB issues any special instructions to recover lost time, we will comply accordingly.”
Ministry and DSE responses
The Ministry of Education has attributed the delay in printing textbooks to the current changed circumstances. Siddiq Jobayer, Senior Secretary of the Ministry's Secondary and Higher Education Department, acknowledged the setback but assured that steps are being considered to mitigate the impact on students' studies.
Speaking to Jago News, he said, "I have reviewed the proposed academic calendar, but it has not yet been approved. A decision will be made after carefully considering whether adjustments to the curriculum are feasible. To address the disruption to students' learning, everyone’s cooperation will be essential. Teachers, in particular, have a pivotal role to play, and we will provide them with necessary guidance.”
The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSE), tasked with overseeing secondary and higher secondary educational activities, is responsible for implementing the Ministry's directives.
Addressing the issue, DSE Director General (Additional Responsibilities) Professor ABM Rezaul Karim told Jago News, "We are well aware of the situation. Concerns have been communicated to the Ministry of Education, and we will work to carry out the instructions provided by the higher authorities."