‘Midday meal is a right, not charity’

State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj has said the midday meal programme is not an act of favour or charity but a right of every student enrolled in school.

“The main objective of the school feeding programme is to ensure children’s wellbeing, regular attendance and improved learning capacity by providing nutritious food,” he said.

The state minister made the remarks as the chief guest at an orientation programme for head teachers under the “Feeding Programme in Government Primary Schools” project and a discussion meeting on improving the quality of primary education at a local hotel in Khulna on Thursday.

Hajjaj said ensuring nutrition and education for every child was the government’s responsibility.

“There will be no scope for irregularities, negligence or the supply of substandard food in implementing the school feeding programme,” he said, adding that the effective participation of teachers, guardians and local communities would be increased to ensure transparency and accountability.

He said the school feeding programme was playing an important role in achieving the government’s two key goals for primary education ensuring that no child remains out of school and providing every child with quality education.

“Alongside ensuring children’s attendance at school, nutritious food contributes to their physical and mental development.

which also has a positive impact on their learning capacity,” he said.

The state minister said the government was giving the highest priority to primary education and continuously increasing investment in the sector.

“The objective of this investment is not merely to build infrastructure. It is to bring every child to school, ensure their nutrition and provide quality education to build a skilled and educated generation,” he said.

Taking a firm stance on food quality, Hajjaj instructed school authorities to reject any food found to be substandard, rotten or unsuitable and immediately inform the concerned assistant upazila education officer.

“If any irregularity in the supply system or any complaint about substandard food is found, it will be properly investigated and necessary action will be taken,” he said, stressing that responsibility and accountability must be ensured.

He said mothers’ committees were being more actively involved in monitoring the school feeding programme.

“Greater parental oversight of the quality, quantity and supply of food at the school level will help reduce irregularities and strengthen public confidence in the programme,” he said.

The meeting was chaired by Khulna Additional Divisional Commissioner (Revenue) Sifat Mehnaz.
Khulna City Corporation Administrator Nazrul Islam Manju, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education Md Matiar Rahman, Feeding Programme Project Director Md Abul Amin, Director (Stipend) of the Directorate of Primary Education Md Masud Hossain, Khulna Deputy Commissioner Hure Jannat and Divisional Deputy Director of Primary Education in Khulna Dr Md Shafiqul Islam attended the event as special guests.

District Primary Education Officer Sheikh Ahidul Alam delivered the welcome address.
Head teachers of 167 government primary schools in Paikgachha upazila of Khulna attended the programme.