Launch school feeding programme in pry schools

Diversified packages of foods will be helpful to meet nutrition and calorie shortage of school children as well as their daily requirements of food and it will also increase their learning ability, the speakers said.

Primary Education Development Project-2 (PEDP-2) and Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC) jointly organised the workshop on 'School feeding in primary education level: Find out a universal programme for sustainable management' at LGED auditorium at Agargaon in the city.

Addressing as chief guest, Dr Kamal Uddin Siddiqui, principal secretary to the prime minister, said requirement of nutrition and calories of the children is being met by ongoing feeding programme in some primary schools, which has been taken as pilot project.

The programme should be implemented in all primary schools across the country, he said, adding that the local community has to be involved for management of the programme.

He also suggested that milk, banana, and egg should be included in the food menu to meet the poor children's lack of protein and nutrition.

Dr Siddiqui said a large number of people would be engaged in the food supply process and thus the local entrepreneurship will increase, which will contribute to the national economy.

AKM Shamsuddin, secretary of primary and mass education ministry, said that as a signatory to various international conventions on children rights we have to fulfil the basic needs of children- food as well as education.

Shamsuddin, also the chair of the workshop, said the provision of midday meal for the primary school children has been approved in the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP).

Executive Chairman of PPRC Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman said it is the responsibility of the state to ensure primary education but engagement of community people is also important for quality education.

Khondakar Md Asaduzzaman, programme director of PEDP-2, called on the local and international NGOs and private sectors to lend support to this project.

Mahbub Ahmed, joint secretary of primary education directorate, educationalists, representatives of local government department, donor agencies and NGOs also spoke on the occasion.