No Annual Exams for Four New Primary and Secondary School Textbooks From 2027

The government is introducing four new textbooks and subjects into Bangladesh’s primary and secondary curricula from the 2027 academic year, focusing on sports, enjoyable learning, technical education and students’ engagement with modern technology. There will be no separate annual examinations for these subjects, with students’ performance instead assessed through continuous evaluation, officials said.

The National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) has prepared the books: Sports and Bangladesh’s Culture for Class Four, and Learning with Happiness and My Technical Education for Class Six.

NCTB Member (Curriculum) Prof Dr AKM Shawkat Ali Khan said, “The introduction of these four new textbooks will give students the opportunity to acquire practical and skills-based knowledge in an enjoyable environment, moving beyond purely textbook-based learning.”

Officials concerned said the initiative to incorporate the four textbooks into the curriculum was taken in line with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s long-term vision, extensive research and guidance. The move is intended to make education more enjoyable, practical and grounded in moral values.

According to the NCTB, the outlines of the books were presented at a high-level workshop involving four ministries at the International Mother Language Institute on July 12. Final manuscripts were subsequently prepared with the participation of experts and educationists.

NCTB Member (Textbooks) Prof Mohammad Abu Naser Tuku said, “The process of printing the four new books is now in its final stages. Following final approval from the National Curriculum Coordination Committee (NCC), we expect to complete printing around 15 million copies by December 15.”

What the Four New Textbooks Contain

Sports: A Healthy Lifestyle and Self-Defence Techniques

The NCTB said the Class Four Sports textbook was developed with students’ age and mental development in mind. Organised into 14 dynamic chapters, the book aims to encourage children to adopt healthy lifestyles and develop an interest in sports from an early age.

It introduces the basic rules of various sports, including football, cricket, kabaddi, badminton, swimming, athletics and chess. It also covers self-defence techniques such as karate, judo and taekwondo to help students improve their physical abilities and learn how to protect themselves.

The book uses practical illustrations to explain what to do in situations such as cuts, sprains, nosebleeds and heatstroke that may occur while playing or running. Students will learn how to use basic first-aid supplies and prevent injuries through practical activities. Nutrition, social skills and patriotism are also emphasised.

The first chapter, titled When Dreams Reach for the Sky, features an inspirational story about a girls’ football team formed at a rural primary school under the guidance of a teacher, Ayman Sir, and his colleague, Sadia Apa. The story follows Mehjabin and several other students as they overcome social barriers and superstitions to achieve success at union, upazila, district, divisional and national levels.

The story illustrates how sports can not only improve physical health but also create career opportunities, contribute to socioeconomic change and improve living standards.

The NCTB has taken the initiative to incorporate four new textbooks into the curriculum in line with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s decades-long vision, extensive research and guidance. The measures are intended to make the education system enjoyable, practical and grounded in moral values.

NCTB Chairman Prof Mohammad Fakhrul Mawla said the Sports textbook had been developed for the first time with particular attention to ensuring that students’ studies did not become one-dimensional and exhausting.

Bangladesh’s Culture: Heritage, Values and Notun Kuri

The Bangladesh’s Culture textbook has been organised into 11 chapters to familiarise young students with the country’s rich history, heritage and folk culture. According to NCTB officials, colourful illustrations depict language, clothing, arts, food culture, social customs and the traditional lifestyles of ethnic minority communities.

The book covers Bangla alphabet practice, school festivals, the hoisting of the national flag and traditional pitha and puli delicacies. It also presents modern approaches to joint decision-making by parents and mutual cooperation in household responsibilities.

A dedicated chapter introduces the history of Notun Kuri, a popular talent-hunting programme for children and adolescents. It includes the initiative launched by then President Ziaur Rahman in 1976 and rare photographs of its winners.

Learning with Happiness: Fear-Free and Enjoyable Learning

The Learning with Happiness textbook has been developed in six chapters for Class Six students, with the aim of making education free from fear and more enjoyable. It introduces a new concept and approach to learning in Bangladesh’s education system.

Instead of relying on the conventional examination system, the book explores how students can acquire knowledge through enjoyable experiences, interaction with others and various extracurricular activities. It is also expected to reduce the academic burden considerably.

Students will be able to achieve learning outcomes in an engaging way by drawing on their health, surrounding environment and everyday experiences.

NCTB officials said the book would help students understand that learning is not limited to memorisation or exam preparation. Knowledge can also be acquired through everyday life, health, the environment, safety, creativity, interpersonal relationships and personal experiences.

My Technical Education: Small Initiatives, Big Possibilities

The Class Six textbook My Technical Education has been organised into eight chapters to develop students’ practical learning habits and problem-solving skills to help them meet the challenges of the 21st century.

Its central philosophy is to move students beyond the theoretical question of “What do I know?” towards the practical question of “What can I do?”, helping them become more self-reliant.

The book covers introductory technical education, technology in the surrounding world, small initiatives with big possibilities, how builders and creators drive change, green technology and sustainable living. It is designed to help students identify practical technical problems and develop a foundation for finding basic solutions through the effective use of technology.

Special glossary-style sections have also been included in all four textbooks.

In line with the government's election manifesto, the textbooks have been developed around enjoyment, sports, culture and hands-on technical skills. The new textbooks are expected to transform the learning methods and experiences of the next generation. The books will receive final approval at a meeting of the National Curriculum Coordination Committee (NCC) on Sunday, October 25.

Mahdi Amin, adviser to the prime minister on education and primary and mass education, said the sports and culture subjects would be introduced in Class Four in the next academic year and gradually expanded to Classes One through Five.

Meanwhile, Learning with Happiness and technical education will be incorporated into the curricula for all classes from Six to Ten.

He said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had developed multifaceted plans for reforming the state structure based on his longstanding political experience. As part of this effort, the prime minister had also focused on necessary reforms in education and worked for years to make the education system enjoyable, practical and grounded in moral values.

“The new textbooks being incorporated into the curriculum reflect the prime minister’s thinking, experience and research on the education system,” Mahdi Amin said.

He added that, based on his own 15 years of working with the prime minister, he understood that Tarique Rahman wanted the education system to develop students’ human values, social etiquette, family culture and qualities needed to become responsible citizens.

Emphasising the role of education in creating employment, Mahdi Amin said the NCTB was brought into the initiative under the prime minister’s direction after the election. The board subsequently formed a team that included people who had assisted the prime minister in developing the relevant policies.

“Alongside them, many distinguished educationists are involved in educational activities at different levels. They regularly hold consultations and meetings to implement the prime minister’s vision,” Mahdi Amin added.

NCTB officials said the textbooks had been developed in line with the government's election manifesto, combining enjoyment, sports, culture and hands-on technical skills. They reiterated that the new books were expected to change the learning methods and experiences of the next generation.

The NCTB said around 15 million copies of the four textbooks would be printed. Chairman Prof Mohammad Fakhrul Mawla said, “The preparation and validation of the manuscripts for the four new textbooks have already been completed successfully. Following approval at the NCC meeting on October 25, the content will be sent to printing presses.”