The potential reintroduction of the school feeding program by the government is certainly welcome news, one that is more needed than ever before in the wake of the high inflation, particularly with regard to essential food items.
Providing our students, who will be the future of this country, with the proper nutrition they need to thrive is something that should never be overlooked and we were disappointed when the feeding program had been brought to a halt in June 2022, with students being deprived for over a year now of nutritious food at a time when cost of food keeps soaring.
Previous plans proposed for the school feeding program were also not approved, so we hope that this time, the potential plan sees the light of day, and children go back to receiving their meals. Furthermore, we hope that there is sufficient monitoring and evaluating to ensure that the program is functioning efficiently.
What must also be taken into account is that school meals incentivize attendance, especially in areas where families may struggle to afford daily meals. When children know they will receive a nutritious meal at school, they are more likely to attend regularly.
And of course, they go a long way to battle malnutrition which remains a pressing issue in many parts of the country. This in turn helps level the playing field, ensuring that every child, regardless of their socioeconomic background, has access to nutrition. This ultimately fosters a more equitable society by allowing these children to try to reach their full potential.
Investing in school feeding is an investment in the nation's future. Well-nourished children are more likely to perform better academically, graduate, and become productive citizens. With Bangladesh at a transitional stage in its development journey, never has it been more important to have healthy, well fed students to take our nation forward and reach the heights we are aiming for.
