Thousands of young children across Bangladesh are set to benefit from a major government initiative aimed at tackling malnutrition and improving school attendance.
Under the “School Feeding Programme in Government Primary Schools”, students in 19,419 primary schools across 150 upazilas in 62 districts will receive nutritious meals to support their growth and learning.
The programme, proposed by the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, is designed to boost enrolment, improve attendance, and reduce dropout rates while addressing critical nutritional deficiencies among children.
With an estimated budget of Tk5,452.42 crore, the project is awaiting approval from the Planning Commission and will be fully funded by the government.
A senior Planning Commission official confirmed that the proposal will be discussed at the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) meeting scheduled for Sunday.
Alongside this initiative, 14 other projects, with a combined budget of Tk21,290.86 crore, will also be presented for approval.
The programme will be implemented by the Directorate of Primary Education and is expected to run until December 2027.
Officials see this as a crucial step towards fostering a healthier and more supportive learning environment for children across the country.
The school feeding initiative will follow two key food distribution strategies to provide balanced nutrition for students.
Under the scheme, children will receive a varied food basket five days a week, including fortified biscuits, buns, bananas, eggs, and ultra-high temperature (UHT) milk.
Ensuring students receive essential nutrients is critical for their physical health and cognitive development.
The initiative aims to address malnutrition-related learning difficulties, improve school performance, and enhance retention rates in primary education.
Mirajul Islam Ukil, director of planning and development at the Directorate of Primary Education, highlighted the importance of nutrition in early education.
He said, “By addressing malnutrition, this initiative will not only improve students’ physical well-being but also enhance their focus, attendance, and academic performance. A well-nourished child is more likely to complete primary education successfully, breaking the cycle of poverty and ensuring a brighter future for Bangladesh.”
Beyond tackling hunger, the school feeding programme is expected to have a lasting impact on education. Hunger is a major distraction for young learners, often leading to lower concentration levels and poor academic outcomes.
By ensuring that children have access to regular, nutritious meals, the government aims to create a more conducive learning environment, improve enrolment rates, and reduce school dropouts.
The initiative aligns with the National School Meal Policy 2019, which seeks to meet at least 30% of students’ daily caloric intake and 50% of their micronutrient needs through school meals.
This is part of a broader effort to eliminate educational inequality and provide children with the food security necessary for success in their studies.
Bangladesh has a long history of school feeding programmes, initially supported by the World Food Programme (WFP).
The initiative began in 2001 and continued through various phases, most recently under the “School Feeding Programme in Poverty-Stricken Areas (Third Amendment)”, which ran from July 2010 to June 2022. Since then, the government has worked to expand the programme and integrate it into wider educational reforms.
In 2021, the government pledged to provide nutritious meals to students in 492 upazilas and city corporation areas, benefiting children from pre-primary to primary school levels.
The latest initiative builds on this commitment, ensuring that more children receive the nutrition they need to thrive.
A previous proposal for a nationwide school feeding programme was submitted by the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education in 2020 with a budget of Tk17,290.22 crore.
However, the ECNEC deferred the project in June 2021, recommending a comprehensive feasibility study before proceeding.
Courtesy: Daily Sun.
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
