Prime Minister Tareque Rahman has directed officials to review the feasibility of reintroducing a universal stipend program for girls from grade six through undergraduate level. He also ordered pilot projects in two districts to assess the effectiveness of a “mid-day meal” program at the school level.
He gave the directives at a meeting on the Prime Minister’s Education Assistance Trust, held Monday, August 24, at the Prime Minister’s Office within the Cabinet Division at the Secretariat. The meeting, chaired by the prime minister, was briefed in detail on the trust’s ongoing activities, its goals and objectives, and its role in preventing student dropout through financial assistance. The meeting also discussed the impact and achievements of the universal stipend program for girls introduced during the tenure of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.
Discussion touched on the program’s positive effect on girls’ school attendance, continuation of education, and discouraging child marriage.
Against that backdrop, the prime minister directed officials to reintroduce a universal stipend for girls from grade six through undergraduate level, emphasizing the need to prepare a clear proposal analyzing the likely cost, number of beneficiaries, implementation method, and expected social and educational impact.
The meeting also discussed extending stipends to boys based on merit and eligibility, in order to encourage their education as well.
Alongside improving education quality, the meeting gave equal weight to students’ nutrition and health protection. Discussions covered the management of the mid-day meal program at the school level, the nutritional quality of the food, and ensuring a safe food supply for children. The prime minister emphasized that food provided to students must be nutritious, safe and of high quality, and that there could be no compromise whatsoever on food quality.
The meeting discussed two alternative approaches to implementing the mid-day meal program, weighing cost, management capacity, local-level participation and food quality control. To evaluate the effectiveness, feasibility and likely outcomes of both approaches, the prime minister directed that a pilot project for each be launched in two separate districts.
The meeting was attended by Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon, the prime minister’s education adviser and spokesperson Mahdi Amin, Education Secretary Abdul Khaleque, the prime minister’s additional press secretary Atiqur Rahman Rumon, and other senior officials concerned.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report