Primary textbooks must reach schools by November 5: Bobby Hajjaj
State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj today instructed the printing firms concerned to ensure delivery of textbooks of government primary schools by November 5.
Emphasizing the strict adherence to prescribed standards and specifications for textbook printing, he stated that any firm found using outdated machinery for printing from next year will be disqualified from receiving future contracts.
The state minister issued these directives during a visit to 'Bornomala Press' and 'Global Printing Equipment' at Matuail area in the capital.
During the visit, he inspected the printing process, the machinery in use, the quality of the paper and the overall production quality of the textbooks.
He remarked that accepting the responsibility for printing textbooks entails completing the work while maintaining the specified standards. Any potential limitations regarding a firm's capacity should be carefully considered before participating in the tender process.
The state minister asserted that the quality of the books cannot be compromised under the pretext of technical limitations or insufficient printing capacity.
It is the responsibility of the printing firm to ensure that the books meet 100% of the quality standards stipulated by the government, he added.
Inspecting the quality of the printed materials, he identified inconsistencies in color arrangement and alignment in some of the books.
He issued a stern warning to those responsible, emphasizing the need to prevent such defects from affecting a large portion of the printed stock.
Furthermore, he underscored the importance of strengthening quality control and oversight mechanisms for the printing process.
The state minister added, "Ensuring the quality of textbooks goes beyond merely completing the job, it must be verified that every single book is printed in accordance with the established standards.
It is the government's duty to ensure that high-quality textbooks reach the students." "Therefore, no negligence or substandard work will be tolerated in this regard."
He urged the concerned printing firms to ensure the delivery of all books within the stipulated timeframe and also advised them to prepare for the use of modern, high-capacity printing machinery in future.
Representatives from the NCTB and the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, along with officials from the relevant printing firms, were present during the inspection.
