NCTB – a den of mismanagement

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), the graft watchdog, has done a study on the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) and had some damning things to say about the board. It is timely, principally because we find NCTB in the news on a regular basis these days, either because of factual errors in textbooks, or more worryingly, the direct omission or misrepresentation of important events related to our culture, tradition and history. The study points out that 16 pieces have been left out of five textbooks (at primary and secondary levels) including poems, on the demand of certain pressure groups. The publication and distribution of textbooks process is apparently laced with corruption and nepotism which ultimately result in substandard editing and printing.

The TIB is not off the mark when it says that it is necessary to make NCTB an independent commission, free of politicisation and incompetent elements. Until NCTB is able to function with freedom, we will see no end to the meddling by vested interest groups who are both morally and financially corrupt.

It has been also alleged that certain NCTB officials are in cahoots with specific organisations whenever a tender is called. Indeed, the list of anomalies extends to awarding contracts to paper mills that do not meet the appropriate standards to awarding of honorarium to members who have little to do with preparing textbooks. All these point to systemic and entrenched graft at various levels of NCTB and perhaps it is time for the government anti-graft body to take a closer look at what is going on here.