The government has initiated steps to amend the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) Act of 2018. If approved, the Directorate of Primary Education (DPE) will take over printing of textbooks for primary students starting in the 2027 academic year.

Education adviser C.R. Abrar confirmed that the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education has proposed the amendment, which is currently under review.

DPE officials argue that since their ministry already receives budget allocations for printing, handling the process directly would cut costs and ensure timely book delivery. They also raised concerns about delays and paper quality under the current system.

However, education experts caution that NCTB’s decades of experience and technical capacity must be weighed carefully before transferring responsibilities.