DHAKA, Mar 29 (V7N)– The Bangladeshi government is set to relaunch its midday meal program in government primary schools nationwide, beginning in April of this year, aiming to improve student nutrition and reduce dropout rates.

"The government is going to reintroduce the midday meal at government primary schools across the country in April this year," a government education official confirmed.

The program will initially benefit approximately 3.13 million students across 20,000 primary schools, particularly those located in poverty-stricken areas.

"About 31.30 lakh students of about 20,000 primary schools mostly from poverty prone areas in the country will come under the feeding scheme," a Directorate of Primary Education (DPE) report stated.

The Directorate of Primary Education (DPE) Director General, Abu Noor Md Shamsuzzaman, highlighted the program's objectives.

"The government has taken the initiative to provide midday meal five days in a week to ensure nutrition of students and prevent dropouts," DPE Director General Abu Noor Md Shamsuzzaman told BSS. He said the three-year-term project will play a vital role to ensure quality education of students," Shamsuzzaman stated.

The program will be implemented in phases, starting with 19,419 government primary schools in 150 upazilas across 62 districts.

"The project will be implemented across the country in phases. The school feeding programme will be run in 19,419 government primary schools in 150 upazilas of 62 districts across the country," a DPE official confirmed.

The midday meals will consist of nutritious items such as milk, eggs, bread, and seasonal fruits.

"The midday meal items will include milk, eggs, bread and seasonal fruits. A roadmap has been prepared for distribution of dry nutritious food in three phases," a project outline detailed.

The estimated cost per student per meal is between Taka 39 and 40, and local committees will oversee the program's implementation.

"The meal will cost Taka 39 to 40 per student while a committee of locals will work under the supervision of the Upazila Nirbahi Officer to maintain discipline in the programme," a project management report confirmed.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved a three-year project with a budget of Taka 5,452 crore.

"The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) recently approved the three-year project proposal of Taka 5,452 crore. The government will bear the cost of the school feeding programme from its own resources while the project will be implemented by the DPE," a government finance report stated.

Primary and Mass Education Adviser, Professor Dr. Bidhan Ranjan Roy Podder, emphasized the program's focus on addressing malnutrition among primary school students.

"Primary and Mass Education Adviser Professor Dr Bidhan Ranjan Roy Podder said the purpose of the mid-day meal project is to ensure nutrition of the school children. 'Our primary school students suffer from malnutrition. This project has a health component,' he added," Podder explained.

The program will also include Rohingya children residing in Cox's Bazar and Bhasan Char.

"Rohingya children residing in Cox's Bazar and Bhasan Char will also be included in this project, the adviser said, adding, 6,099 teachers from 1,095 government primary schools will receive skill-building training under this project," an education ministry report confirmed.

Dr. Md. Abdus Salam, a professor at Dhaka University's Institute of Education and Research, praised the initiative as timely and beneficial for student nutrition.

"Professor of Dhaka University (DU) Institute of Education and Research Dr Md Abdus Salam termed the school feeding programme as a timely initiative, saying it would ensure proper nutrition of school goers," a university education expert stated.

The reintroduction of the midday meal program is expected to have a positive impact on student health and education outcomes.

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