As soon as the primary, lower-middle and middle schools and madrasahs opened up for the new academic year, publishers in Bagerhat jumped into competition to sell banned guidebooks.
Meanwhile, marketing representatives of the guidebook publishers have formed “donation deals” with several teachers and leaders of local teacher organisations.
This “donation” has spread to almost all places in the district, including Sharankhola, Morolganj, Mongla, Rampal, Chitalmari, Mollahut, Kochua, Fakirhut.
Estimation from various sources says that this business garners about a few crores Taka across the district.
On the other hand, many concerned and influential members of the community worry that the dependence on guidebooks may pose a challenge for the government’s creative teaching methods.
It has been learned that in the district, more than a hundred publishers including Panjeri, Jupiter, Ashar Alo, Scholar, Prime, Nabaduto, Global, Al Baraka, Al Falah and Al Samad Publications have targeted a few thousand new students, enrolled in the new academic calendar, from 20 middle schools, 19 madrasahs and 113 primary schools across four unions, and published guidebooks for Grade 1 through grade 10 in massive productions.
When contacted, no one from the marketing divisions of Jupiter, Scholar, Al Baraka, Prime or Global was available to speak to this correspondent.
Additionally, there are lot of deals being negotiated under the disguise of “donations” with many of the teachers, department heads and superintendents.
These donations are based on the number of students. However, each school is receiving around Tk1-1.5lakh. Beyond these donations, there are also deals being made to give away all the question papers throughout the year for free.
“Books that have been set to be sold at Tk650-700 are in reality worth Tk200-250. The guides are receiving 20-25% commission, and publishers are setting the price 2-3 times higher than actual price,” said a bookseller at Rayenda Bazar in the upazila sadar on condition of anonymity.
The companies are snatching away the extra money from parents. Furthermore, although the annual profit from selling books is Tk20-25,000, subject teachers, including Bangla and English grammar teachers, are somehow receiving around Tk50,000-Tk1lakh. Additionally, the local madrasah teachers’ association and primary teachers organisation have meanwhile received “donation” of Tk6 lakh and Tk3 lakh respectively. The middle school teachers’ association is negotiating with various companies.
Regarding this, Piara Begum from Rajya neighborhood in the upazilla, said she has admitted her son Sabbir in a local madrasah in 6th grade. Now even if he gets government books, she has to spend Tk2,000-2,500 on guide books.
The principal of a middle school says: “If teachers are genuine, then the students don’t need guidebooks. However, to gain illegal favours, some corrupt teachers are abusing the talent of students and receiving unfair advantages from the books.”
It is important to note that in order to teach the students with the right method, the teachers have to give proper explanation for which they need to do their own homework and background research. But they are so busy conducting private tuition lessons, that thy do not have the time to do their own homework. Hence they teach using guidebooks in the classroom.
On the other hand, the district Anti-Corruption Commision President and Former Principal of Bagerhat Government PC College says: “Some people who claim to be ‘teachers’ have made deals with the guidebook publishers to make some personal gains. Measures against them must be taken immediately.”
Md Alamgir Hossain, president of primary, middle and madrasah teachers’ association in Shaurkhola Upazila, Md Ahmed BSC and Maulana Abdus Salam claim some companies have tried to seal deals with them, although the three have refused to make any financial negotiation for this year.
The district’s middle-school education officer Md Mizanur Rahman says he has meanwhile informed principals of all educational insitutes that they may not use these guidebooks. Additionally, action will be taken against teachers and institutions who capitalise on the talents of the students to receive illegal “donations.”