Dhaka March 9 – Primary and mass education ministry is committed to introducing midday meal in all government primary schools across as an initiative to retain the students in the classroom and reduce the dropout.“The government is providing free textbooks, stipends, infrastructural facilities and others things. What is the role of the parents then? We can motivate the mothers to give some food with their kids to carry to schools for lunch. I have started it in my district and getting benefits out of it,” Primary and mass education minister Mostafizur Rahman on Thursday.
“The policy changes with the changes of government. But if midday meal can be introduced by the parents especially by mothers no policy can change it. For it we need to motivate our mothers. It has already started and I want it in all primary schools across the country in a month,” he added.
The minister said this at a workshop on ‘Communication and Social Motivation’ where about 2050 officers of various education related offices from four divisions Dhaka, Chittagong, Barisal and Syhlet were present at the National Government Primary School premises in the capital, with director general of Directorate of Primary Education (DPE) Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal in the chair.
Among others, secretary of primary and mass education ministry Mohammad Asif-Uz-Zaman, additional secretary of primary and mass education ministry AFM Manzur Kadir and additional director general of DPE Ramzan Ali, were present.
“When our children remain starve in the school, they don’t like to stay in school till 4pm. So I request all mothers to give food in a tiffin box and bottle of water with their kids. It will help us to reduce dropout,” Mostafizur Rahman said.
“There should not be any politics in the question of education. There should have any personal choice here. We have to work together with dedication as these are our children and our future,” he said.
The minister called upon all the field level officers, teachers and others to work with dedication and affection for the improvement of quality of education in primary level.
Mohammad Asif-Uz-Zaman said weak monitoring system in the field level is responsible for not getting desired performance. “We have various constrains but still we can do better if the teachers and officers work properly. We know your problems and we would solve it. We need the sense of participation,” he said.
In the open discussion, participants pointed out various problems in the field level like shortage of teachers and instructors, poor infrastructural facilities impediment for ensuring quality education.
Headmistress of a school in the capital Piyara Akhter said, “It has become difficult to retain students in the classrooms whole day for not having midday meal. We have to work here.”
President of school managing committee of a school in the capital Shamim Ara Shimul said, “We have post of 10 teachers but there are six teachers in our schools. One teacher is taking eight to ten classes. As a result teachers are failing to concentrate.”
Assistant education officer of Patuakhali Showkat Ali Khan said, “There is no national unique question structure from class I to IV. As a result different schools are making different questions in absence of any guideline. Ultimately it becomes difficult for equal evaluation.”
Assistant superintendent of Primary Training Institute (PTI) in Manikganj said there is crisis of teachers in PTI and some are posted on deputation but desired performance does not come. “We have got only one promotion after 30 years of our job. Many are not getting promotion in time, which is hampering work.” – Staff Reporter
