ET Desk: Primary and Mass Education Adviser Professor Dr Bidhan Ranjan Roy Podder today revealed that newly built infrastructures of city’s 10 primary schools with eye-catching designs will be inaugurated by this month.

He said the government is reconstructing the buildings of 46 primary schools in the city with various beautiful designs to make the education enjoyable to the students and create a soothing environment for learning in the institutions.

“The construction work of buildings of 10 primary schools out of 46 has already been completed. These buildings will be inaugurated by this month,” the adviser said at a view-exchange meeting in the city.

Gono Shakkhorata Obhijan (GSO) and BRAC Institute of Educational Development (BRAC IED) of BRAC University jointly organized the meeting on “Improving the mental health of primary school students: Our responsibilities” at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the city.

Dr Bidhan said the government has selected some primary schools on a cluster basis, where physical education and music teachers will be appointed.

As the issue of creating posts for fine arts teacher in primary schools was proposed here, he said, appointing teachers for counseling students in educational institutions can be considered.

Noting that mid-day meals will be introduced in all government primary schools across the country by the next five years, the adviser said 150 upazilas have already been selected for introducing mid-day meals primarily while the project is awaiting ECNEC approval.

Dr Bidhan said in primary education, stipends have been introduced to ensure that students do not drop out.

But stipends could not bring expected outcome as it has been observed that students’ names are enrolled in one school for stipends, but they continue their education in another school, he added.

In fact, the stipend money is insufficient, the adviser said, adding, “We are considering whether this money can be increased”.

BRAC IED Senior Advisor Dr Mohammad Musa and Education Watch Convener Dr Ahmad Moshtaq Raja Chowdhury spoke as guests of honor with GSO Executive Director Rasheda K Chowdhury in the chair.

GSO Deputy Director Tapan Kumar Das delivered the welcome address in the event.

Teacher Development Institute (TDI) Director Professor M Nazmul Haq presented a survey report on the mental health of children with a finding that 55.02 percent children need regular counseling to keep them free from mental pressure.

A total of 203 organizations helped in making the survey report by conducting the survey in the country’s eight divisions.

The report said that natural disasters, unrest and violent situation in the country and Covid-19 left children in a long-term mental trauma while counseling is a must to recover them from it.

The recommendation of the report, however, included arranging recreational programmes for children and airing programme on mental health on television.

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