The government is adopting a “zero tolerance” approach toward note compilations and study guides, according to Prof AKM Reazul Hassan, chairman of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board.
Several studies have indicated that students have increasingly relied on question papers, mark schemes, and other guides in recent years. These guides not only raise the cost of education for parents but are also believed to undermine the true purpose of education.
Commenting on how guides “disrupt the main goal of education,” Reazul told bdnews24.com: “We have zero tolerance for note compilations and guides. The government will also be firm on the printing of such guides.”
“We have written to the Ministry of Education to take action against notes and guides. The district and Upazila administrations have already been instructed to launch campaigns against these guides. Some campaigns have already begun in certain areas.”
Reazul added that textbook content would be revised, and the question formats for various exams would be expanded to prevent the “oppression” of guides.
He stated, “Our thinking behind stopping notes and guides is that the content of the textbooks should be restructured in such a way that different types of questions can be asked. The questions should be framed so they are not repeated. Therefore, the structuring of questions should also be changed.”
“Many people rely on reference books for IELTS and GRE exams, but those books do not contain the exact questions from the exams. If we adopt a similar approach, we could create a varied set of questions. When people realize the same questions are not repeated, their reliance on notes and guides will decrease, and the focus will return to engaging with the textbooks.”
According to the “Education Watch Report 2023” by the Campaign for Popular Education, 92 percent of primary and 93 percent of secondary students used guidebooks for their lessons and exam preparation.
The “Education Watch Report 2022” also showed that 79 percent of primary and 82.5 percent of secondary students relied on these guides.
Both reports pointed to these guidebooks as the primary cause of the rising costs of education.
