The Directorate of Primary Education (DPE) has directed education officials to ensure playgrounds in government primary schools as sports are set to become a compulsory part of the national curriculum from Class 4, reports BSS.
The directive was issued through an office order by the directorate's Section-2 on Sunday.
The order said the instructions follow a decision taken at a meeting of the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education on March 16. District and upazila education authorities have been asked to begin the necessary preparations.
Schools that already have playgrounds have been instructed to assess their needs and seek funds from the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief to make the grounds suitable for sports.
The DPE also ordered officials to inspect schools without playgrounds and submit detailed reports. According to the directorate, around 11,000 government primary schools across the country do not have any playgrounds.
The order further said proposals for establishing new government primary schools must include confirmation that adequate playground space is available.
Schools without their own grounds have been asked to negotiate with nearby private institutions or landowners to use their playgrounds for a fixed period.
If suitable land is available at temples, mosques, vacant plots, unused land or other government facilities, local authorities have been instructed to arrange joint use of those spaces for sports activities.
Where playgrounds cannot be arranged, schools have been directed to purchase equipment for indoor games, including chess and carrom, using available funds.
The DPE also instructed all government primary schools to hold annual sports competitions regularly and keep school playgrounds open for children after class hours and on weekends.
District and upazila education officers have been asked to implement the directives and submit progress reports to the Directorate of Primary Education as soon as possible.
Officials said the initiative is expected to improve students' physical fitness, mental development, leadership qualities and teamwork while strengthening the culture of sports in schools.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
