Student councils mulled for primary students

The government is going to launch student councils in public primary schools to inculcate democratic norms in the children's minds.
The student councils would be formed through elections by the students and primarily be involved in some school activities, said officials of primary and mass education ministry.
The councils would be launched in 100 primary schools in 20 upazilas of seven divisions under a pilot project, they added. The elections at the selected schools except a few under Chittagong City Corporation will be held on June 15.
"We are going to introduce student councils in some selected primary schools with the aim to help the children learn democratic practices, become tolerant of opposing views and learn how to work in a team," said Abu Alam Mohammad Shahid Khan, secretary in-charge of the ministry.
The idea is new in our country though it exists in many parts of the world, he said, adding that if successful, it will be introduced in all schools across the country gradually.
Shahid Khan believes the new initiative would help develop the overall standard of primary education.
The councils would be formed through elections for one year. The headmasters of the institutions would publish a voter list 10 days before the election, say officials of the ministry and directorate of primary education.
They add each council will have seven elected representatives. Students from class III to class V would be the candidates and be elected by students of same classes.
A class V student selected by the school would perform as the election commissioner in the election, they add.
The elected council may nominate two associate members who would give all-out help to the elected representatives.
The elected representatives would nominate the chief representative in the first meeting of their council, the officials add.
The chief representative would disburse the work area of other members on the basis of consensus with the help of the headmaster. There would be monthly meetings of the councils where the teachers would assist them.
Primarily, the council would involve in the activities including preservation of surrounding environment of the school; health, sports and cultural activities; water management, midday meal and reception of the guests, the officials inform.
The council would seek help of the school management committee and local people to implement their decisions, they add.
They say there will be a meeting with the students of the school in every six months where the students would give their opinions about the council's activities.
Though the election of the council under the project will be held on June 15, it will be later held in January every year.
An official of the directorate said they have already taken preparations for the election. Twenty officers will monitor the election in the schools and the activities afterwards, he added.
Through this practice the students will be aware about their responsibilities and leadership qualities will grow in them, the acting secretary observes.