Bhaktapur, October 7

The Curriculum Development Centre (CDC) has asked interested private printing firms to renew their licenses for printing school textbooks as per the ‘school textbook and reading material and distribution directive-2010’.

It has also sought proposals from new firms interested in printing school textbooks. The CDC has given 21-day deadline for printing firms to renew their licenses. New printing firms will also be allowed to register during the period.

Diwakar Dhungel, executive chairperson, CDC, on Tuesday said that they were preparing to select private printing firms through fast track process this year. A cabinet decision made last week decided to allow private firms to print school textbooks from Grade I to V.

Private printing firms were in confusion after there were rumours that the government had decided to ban them from printing school textbooks .

“As soon as we were officially informed about the government’s decision, we issued a notice to all private firms interested in printing school textbooks to renew their licenses,” said Dhungel.

He said private firms enlisted under Group one will be allowed to print Grade I to V textbooks — Mero Nepali, Mero Ganit, My English Book, Mero Bigyan, Swasthya Tatha Saririk Sikshya, Mero Samajik Adhyan Tatha Sirjanatmak Kala — while firms enlisted under Group two will be allowed to print Mero Ganit, Mero Bigyan, Swasthya Tatha Saririk Sikshya, Mero Samajik Adhyan Tatha Sirjanatmak Kala, teachers directives, textbooks of Gurukul, Gonpa and Madrassas, and textbooks in various mother tongues.

He further said that firms under Group two will also be allowed to print curriculum of various levels, child reference materials and evaluation materials.

According to the CDC, a total of 21 private firms in 2014 and 19 in 2015 had been issued licenses to print school textbooks.

“This year we are going to regularly monitor printing quality. So, we will select private printing firms very meticulously,” he added. He also said that Sajha Prakashan would also have to register for printing school textbooks as per the existing rules and regulations.