Call to ensure primary edn for children

Speakers at a consultation meeting yesterday called on the government to ensure primary education for all children in the country.
Amar Odhikar Campaign, a network of some rights organisations, held the meeting on 'Proposed National Education Policy: Primary education as a fundamental right' at the National Press Club in the city.
The speakers also stressed the need for establishing at least one school in each village since many children do not want to go to the school because of the distance.
Noted educationist Prof Anisuzzaman presided over the meeting while Principal Sheikh Ekramul Kabir, member secretary of Education Policy Formulation Committee, its member Principal Kazi Farruque Ahmed, also the treasurer of National University, AN Rasheda, editor of the Shikkha Barta, Liakat Ali, principal of Rajarbagh Police Line School and College, and Rokeya Kabir, convener of Amar Odhikar Campaign, also spoke.
Prof Anisuzzaman said without some points the proposed education policy tried to cover all sides and it will help the nation move forward if the policy is properly implemented.
If the policy mentions primary education as a fundamental right it will put pressure on the state to take the responsibility, he added.
He also stressed recruiting more teachers and providing them with proper training to ensure quality education.
"The age for pre-primary students will be four plus while the primary students five plus," he said adding it is also important to specify in the policy that how many teachers would be available at which level.
The meeting also recommended arranging meal for the students, increasing salary of primary teachers, making admission to the nearest school compulsory, introducing stipend for poor and meritorious students, imposing ban on education in religious institutions, recruiting subject-wise teachers, establishing residential schools in hilly and char areas, providing same books and other education materials in all schools by the government and providing the students with vocational training from class six to eight.