Govt plans to reduce unnecessary leaves in pry school: Adviser

The government has announced plans to rationalize annual holidays in primary and secondary educational institutions while introducing midday meals in primary schools in October as part of a broader reform agenda. 

The disclosure came at a press conference organized on the occasion of International Literacy Day 2025 at the Secretariat on Sunday, where Primary and Mass Education Adviser Prof Dr Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar and Ministry Secretary Abu Taher Md Masud Rana briefed the media.

Responding to questions on reducing holidays, the adviser confirmed that calendar holidays are under review. "We have to see how much time teachers can spend with students. Schools remain open for only 180 days. Unnecessary leave can be reduced. For this, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education will work with the Ministry of Education," he said. However, he clarified that "Weekly holidays will remain two days. This leave will be coordinated in a different way."

Currently, the annual holidays for primary schools in the 2025 academic year amount to 76 days, while colleges enjoy 71 days. Officials noted that apart from scheduled holidays, educational activities are frequently suspended for various unforeseen reasons, creating a learning deficit.

The issue of reducing leave had also been discussed last month in a joint meeting between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, presided over by Additional Secretary of Secondary and Higher Education Begum Badrun Nahar, where senior officials from the Directorate of Primary Education and the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education were present.

Alongside these measures, the government is set to launch a midday meal programme in primary schools across 150 upazilas by the end of September or early October. "We hope to be able to introduce mid-day meal in 150 upazila primary schools of the country by the end of September and the beginning of October,"