‘মিড ডে মিল’ পর্যায়ক্রমে সব স্কুলে চালু হবে: ববি হাজ্জাজ

State Minister for Primary and Mass Education, Bobby Hajjaj, has announced plans to gradually introduce a 'Mid-Day Meal' program across all educational institutions in the country. He shared that the initiative will initially launch in government primary schools at the upazila level before being expanded nationwide.

The State Minister made these remarks on Monday (March 16) during a discussion on the education sector organized by a citizen platform in Gulshan, Dhaka.

Key Highlights from the Minister's Announcement:

• Integrated Curriculum: The government plans to bring the education system under a single, unified curriculum. The goal is to ensure that students from various streams—including Bangla, English, and Ebtedayee—attain equal skills and competence by the end of 12 years.

• Focus on Culture and Sports: Greater emphasis will be placed on incorporating culture and sports into the curriculum. Work on this initiative is set to begin after June, with a implementation timeline of two to three years.

• Core Skills and Technology: The government is prioritizing linguistic proficiency, mathematical skills, and moral values to build a skilled workforce. Additionally, efforts are underway to provide technology to every student and teacher.

• Curbing Coaching Culture: The State Minister expressed the government's stance against coaching-dependent education. He expects the "coaching culture" to decline significantly within the next three years as school-based learning improves.

• Policy Reforms: Discussions are ongoing regarding the logic of the lottery system for Class 1 admissions. Furthermore, the Child Welfare Trust's activities for street children will be accelerated.

• Academic Calendar: Based on national realities, the government is reviewing the school managing committees and the Ramadan holiday calendar to make necessary adjustments to the academic schedule.

The Minister emphasized that the government is working with accountability to implement its election manifesto through a comprehensive five-year plan, with a target to ensure 96% enrollment in primary education.