Zubair Qureshi
The Prime Minister’s School Meals Programme is set to launch in Islamabad on Monday, August 5, benefiting 57,000 students from 200 primary schools under the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE).
According to a senior official of the Ministry of Education & Professional Training the initiative aims at improving enrollment and attendance rate, reducing dropout trends and enhancing learning outcomes.
Experimented successfully in Punjab, the measure also serves to promote better health and nutrition through improved Body Mass Index (BMI).
By providing nutritious meals to students, the programme seeks to create a conducive learning environment, supporting the educational and health needs of children. This is a significant step towards ensuring a brighter future for our youth, the official further said.
The necessary preparations in this regard have been made and the launching date is August 5, 2024, the official said. Initially the programme will launch in primary schools of Islamabad where around 57,000 students of 200 FDE schools will enjoy the hot meal at lunch time, he said.
Besides, meal programme, the Ministry of Federal Education & Professional Training has also taken steps to equip around 125 schools and colleges with fully-fledged medical rooms, complete with essential equipment, medicines and supplements. “To ensure effective management of these facilities, our staff will undergo rigorous training by top medical professionals within the next week,” said the official.
This initiative is a crucial part of the ministry’s strategy to create safe and secure learning environments for our students.
“By prioritizing their health and well-being, we aim to provide a supportive and nurturing atmosphere that fosters academic excellence and overall growth,” the official said.
Meanwhile, teachers of the FDE-administered (government) schools in Islamabad have been called by the directorate to report to their heads almost despite the fact schools have not been officially opened for the students. The teachers have been called through a directive issued by the FDE.
Teachers, particularly the lady teachers of the FDE schools are stressed at receiving call from their heads to attend to the schools w.e.f July 24 and they have been left with no option but to cut short their vacation plan as majority of them were either at their home districts or spending time with families in the northern areas. “This [call from the schools) has not only disturbed our plans but also shows the insensitivity of the FDE as the holiday time is not yet over and our children and families have not yet digested such a direction,” said an irritated lady teacher of a school in Islamabad requesting anonymity.
On the other hand, the FDE claims the teachers have been asked to report to their schools prior to the official opening in order to review their syllabus, make their things in order and above all attend various training programmes like Reading Hour Programme (RHP), etc.
