Cooked food to be provided in school feeding programme: State Minister

The experimental programme to provide cooked food to primary school students will begin soon, said State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj. The main objective of this programme is to ensure that nutritious food reaches students at the right time, he said.

He made the remarks as the chief guest at a views-exchange meeting on the 'school feeding programme' for head teachers and primary education quality improvement at Government Primary School in Chapainawabganj on Wednesday, August 26.

The state minister said that in Sri Lanka and various schools in India, school mothers cook healthy food for students in exchange for payment. Following the Prime Minister's directives, the experimental programme to supply cooked food will begin very soon in Bangladesh as well.

He said multiple methods will be considered in this regard. However, regardless of how the programme is implemented, the delivery of nutritious food to students will be ensured properly and on time.

Regarding schoolbags, Bobby Hajjaj said many complaints are received about students carrying excessive books. Among these, complaints about kindergarten schools are higher. Efforts are underway to implement the new curriculum from 2028. Under the new curriculum, arrangements will be made so that students do not have to carry excessive books and books can be kept in the classrooms.

He further said the government is working on creating a basic framework regarding how many books can be given and what can be taught in kindergarten schools.

The views-exchange meeting was presided over by Deputy Commissioner Abu Saleh Md Musa Jangir. Special guests included Chapainawabganj-3 constituency MP Nurul Islam Bulbul, Zila Parishad Administrator Harunur Rashid, Project Director of Government Primary School Feeding Programme Md Abul Amin, and Director of the Department of Primary Education Mohammad Shahidul Islam.