We don’t want to see govt schools treated as private property: Bobby Hajjaj

DINAJPUR, Sept 1: State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj has criticised teachers for forming groups and creating situations resembling mob protests, saying such behaviour undermines their dignity.

“Teachers sometimes form groups and create situations like mob protests. This does not suit your dignity,” he said.

He also stressed the need to involve local communities in government primary schools, saying people often remain connected to nearby private schools but show little interest in government schools.

“Government primary schools are all government institutions, but the attitude seems to be that government property belongs to nobody in particular. We no longer want to see this,” he said.

The state minister was speaking as the chief guest at an orientation programme for head-teachers and a discussion on improving the quality of primary education at the District Shilpakala Academy auditorium on Monday.

He said all government primary schools across the country would be brought under the school feeding programme by 2027.

“The school feeding programme will ensure that no child remains out of school and help bring the dropout rate down to zero,” he said.

Hajjaj urged head-teachers to involve former students and local residents in school activities to create a sense of shared responsibility and accelerate school development.

On school managing committees, he said, “Managing committees are not political bodies. They will be formed with the participation of people from the respective areas. Their main purpose is to connect local residents with schools.”

During an open discussion, several head-teachers complained that they had no involvement in the school feeding programme and that contractors were providing children with low-quality food.

They alleged that some contractors were influential and ignored teachers' concerns, sometimes citing political connections when questioned.
The teachers also complained that bananas were often small or unripe, while eggs varied in size and were sometimes not properly boiled.
After hearing the complaints, the state minister assured the teachers that necessary measures would be taken to resolve the problems.
Deputy Commissioner Rafiqul Islam chaired the programme.

Director (Administration) of the Directorate of Primary Education Mohammad Kamrul Hasan, Project Director of the Government Primary School Feeding Programme Mohammad Abul Amin, Joint Secretary (Budget and Audit) of the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education Ms Israt Jahan, and Dinajpur Superintendent of Police Mohammad Zedan Al Musa also spoke at the event.