In a move to uplift educational standards for lower-income students, the government is prioritising both improved amenities and the quality of learning in primary schools, Primary and Mass Education Adviser Prof Dr Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar has said.
He made the remarks while speaking to reporters before a view-exchange meeting at the Rangpur District Shilpakala Academy on Monday afternoon.
Dr Poddar said the School Feeding Programme (SFP) will begin in government primary schools across the country from next month.
He noted that the procurement process is already underway, and training for implementation teams is in progress. "All preparations will be completed by August, and the programme will be launched in September," he said.
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The adviser explained that the initiative will be carried out nationwide through two separate projects. Of these, the larger project will cover all government primary schools in 150 upazilas, while the other will be implemented specifically in Cox's Bazar and Bandarban.
Abu Taher Md Masud Rana, secretary to the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education; Md Shahidul Islam, Rangpur divisional commissioner; Abu Nur Md Shamsuzzaman, director general of the Directorate of Primary Education; and Mohammad Kamrul Hasan, director (Policy and Operation) of the same directorate, were also present.
Dr Roy further said that the recruitment process for around 14,000 teachers is underway. This includes elevating head teachers to the 10th grade and hiring 3,000 head teachers through the Public Service Commission (PSC).
"In addition to enhancing facilities in government primary schools for lower-income communities, the government is placing strong emphasis on quality improvement," he said. While private kindergarten students are not eligible for the current scholarship exams, a separate system is being arranged for them, he added.
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Addressing the issue of limited teaching hours, the adviser mentioned that there are only 180 school days in a year. “If there is no strong teacher-student connection, learning remains restricted,” he said.
To address this, schools are being transformed into joyful learning spaces through co-curricular activities and child-friendly environments.