Dhaka //

Initiatives have been taken to appoint subject-based teachers in three more categories in government primary schools in the country, said Primary and Mass Education Advisor Professor Dr. Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar.

He said that there is a need to increase the number of subject-based teachers in primary schools. For this, the idea of ​​appointing physical education and music teachers is being considered. Moreover, the matter of appointing fine arts teachers is awaiting approval.

He said these things while speaking as the chief guest at a view-sharing meeting titled ‘Developing the Mental Health of Primary Level Students: What We Can Do’ organized at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center in the capital on Monday. The meeting was organized by the ‘Mass Literacy Campaign’, a front of non-governmental organizations working on education in the country.

Stating the need to increase stipends, Professor Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar said that the amount of money given to students as stipends is not enough at present. Moreover, the stipend money is not being used properly. There are cases of withdrawing stipend money even without being a student. It has to be stopped. But yes, it is an encouragement even in small amounts. But we are not getting the proper results from it. We have to pay attention to that.

Stating that the government is working to introduce ‘mid-day meal’ in primary schools, the advisor said, ‘It is now in isolation. The government is working to introduce it from next year. This is to increase the attendance of children in schools, we have to work to ensure that.’

Regarding the implementation of the tenth grade for primary assistant teachers, he said, ‘I said, despite having good intentions, I cannot introduce the tenth grade for primary teachers. I said it is logical, but not realistic. That is why everyone is after me now.

The view-sharing meeting was chaired by Rasheda K Chowdhury, executive director of the Mass Literacy Campaign. The meeting was addressed by Tapan Kumar Das, deputy director of the Mass Literacy Campaign, Abdur Rouf, program manager of the organization, and Professor Nazmul Haque, director of the Teacher Development Institute.