Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed the authorities to assess the feasibility of reintroducing universal stipends for female students from Class VI to undergraduate level.
The directive came at a meeting of the Prime Minister’s Education Assistance Trust at the Secretariat. The meeting called for a detailed proposal covering the potential cost, number of beneficiaries, implementation process and expected educational and social impact of the programme.
The meeting also reviewed the impact of the universal stipend programme for girls introduced during the tenure of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. Officials said the programme had helped increase girls’ school attendance and retention while contributing to reducing child marriage.
The government is also considering merit- and eligibility-based stipends for boys to encourage them to continue their education.
Mid-day meal programme
The meeting also focused on school nutrition and the proposed mid-day meal programme. Tarique Rahman stressed that food provided to students must be nutritious, safe and of high quality, with no compromise on food safety.
Two alternative models for implementing the programme were discussed, considering cost, management, local participation and quality control. The Prime Minister directed authorities to launch pilot projects in two separate districts to assess the effectiveness and feasibility of both approaches.
The meeting was attended by Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Education and Spokesperson Mahdi Amin, Education Secretary Abdul Khaleque and senior officials.
