Mid-day meal in primary schools at 150 more upazilas in the offing: Adviser

Mid-day meal will soon be introduced for students in primary schools in 150 upazilas of 62 more districts, said Primary and Mass Education Adviser Professor Dr Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar.

He is also hopeful that the next ECNEC meeting will approve the allocation of funds for this.

“Mid-day meal has already been introduced in two other districts under other projects,” said the adviser at a views-exchange meeting titled 'Education Trends and Future Ideas' at the Media Bazar Auditorium of the Bangladesh China Friendship International Conference Center in Dhaka on Wednesday (February 26) afternoon.

Bidhan Ranjan Roy said, “We want to reduce inequality in education. Ensuring quality education is our responsibility.”

Centre for Policy Dialogue Chairperson Professor Rehman Sobhan presided over the meeting, organized by the Ganosakkhorota Ovijan in collaboration with Global Partnership for Education and Malala Fund.

In his speech as the chief guest, the Primary and Mass Education Adviser said, “We think that the burden of examinations needs to be reduced. But parents and teachers want more examinations to be imposed.”

The special guest at the meeting was Rabiul Islam, additional secretary to the Secondary and Higher Education Department. The keynote address was delivered by Dr Manjur Ahmed, Professor Emeritus of BRAC University and Convener of the Consultation Committee on Primary and Non-Formal Education.

CPD Honorary Fellow Professor Dr Mostafizur Rahman and Jahangirnagar University Economics Department Professor Sharmind Nilormi addressed the meeting.

The future education vision and the expectations of civil society were highlighted by Dr Mostafizur Rahman, Deputy Director of Ganosakkhorota Ovijan.

The meeting was also addressed by Mohammadpur Thana Primary Education Officer Sultana Lipi, Teacher Organiser Principal Kazi Faruk Ahmed, Youth Against Hunger Convener and Government Titumir College Student Shihab Uddin Shihab, Bhashantek Government Secondary School Students Chandni Akhter Fatema and Ankhi Khatun, Government Ideal Primary School Student Mohammad Noman, Disabled Students Representative Amena Islam Keya and guardian Golam Azam.

Tapan Kumar Das, deputy director of the Mass Literacy Campaign, presented the welcome speech at the meeting. The meeting was moderated by Ganosakkhorota Ovijan Executive Director Rasheda K Chowdhury.

More than 150 representatives from the Ganosakkhorota Ovijan's member organisations, development partners, education experts, researchers, government and non-government organisations, Education Watch, and teachers' organisations participated in the meeting.