Prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday reiterated her call to the people to receive Covid-19 vaccine to escape the infection of the novel coronavirus afresh. She also directed the authorities concerned to make the vaccination campaign in grassroots level available through community clinics.
We have to take measure so that none is infected again and none remains beyond vaccination coverage,” she said, adding “Everyone has to take the Covid-19 jab.
She also said that the health ministry has already been asked to make the vaccination drive available in villages and at grassroots levels through each community clinic and health centre.
The prime minister was addressing the SSC and equivalent examinations results unveiling and free textbook distribution ceremony at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC), joining virtually from her official residence Gonobhaban in the capital.
She said the Covid-19 jab would be administered through community clinic or health center across the country but those who are yet to receive the jab must get it.
Sheikh Hasina also said that the education ministry and other concerned will have to be cautious so that people would receive the jab.
She asked all concerned to make sure that student and their guardians get the vaccine.
Greeting the students passed the SSC and equivalent examinations, the prime minister urged the parents of the unsuccessful students to cooperate them so they can continue their studies.
Parents or guardian have to come forward so that the students can carry on their studies availing the facilities the government is providing online and through other mediums, she said, adding that “Guardian is not only the guardian rather they have to carry out role of a teacher.
Mentioning that her government has laid emphasis on two issues — nutrition and mental health awareness, she said the government has initiated the school feeding programme. Simultaneously parents or guardians have to pay heed to nutrition of their children.
In this connection, she said 100,000 teachers and officials have been imparted training on it so they can give lessons to their students about nutrition.
On the other hand, she said around 200,000 teachers have been provided training on mental health as many of this country are not aware of their children’s mental health though it is one of the most important issues.
She also noted that sometimes many children do not read or they don’t have concentration on lesson or can’t pay attention to teacher in classroom. Because of this it is said that the children are inattentive or cannot continue study.
But, the issue is not like that. Rather it is one type of disability, she said, adding that concentration has to be given on why he/she can’t do this.
The prime minister said, “Our guardian or teacher is not aware of it (mental health) and that is why this awareness is urgently necessary.
She further said that education ministry should make each teacher aware about it and each educational institution should conduct screening campaign to find out whether there is any problem among the students.
Mentioning that most of the joint families in the country have turned into single family, the prime minister said, “In the joint family if any child had minor problems, it would have been cured as they would play with many children.”
She asked the parents of single family that they should give company to their children and arrange the scope so their children could spend time with others to ensure their mental growth and health.
She continued that the parents should not confine their children only studying textbook, rather make the arrangement of environment of studying, developing social relations with others and growing up socially.
The head of the government further said they have made arrangements such as vocational training and other educational institutions in upazila and grassroots levels for study so that everyone get proper education.
She said no work is smaller rather every work has an honour. “Respecting work is the biggest thing and this lesson needs to be given to the children from their early age,” she said.
Mentioning that today’s student will be the golden people for building Bangabandhu’s “Sonar Bangla”, she urged the parents and teachers to pay attention to grooming them up in this way.
We have to build the skilled citizens and make them worthy of taking the advantages of the 4th Industrial Revolution,”she said.
About the textbook distribution, Sheikh Hasina said today is a very important day for every student as books are being given in New Year along with the announcement of results.
“The joy of getting new books is different as wrapping the new book and writing the name on it, is an amazing feeling,” she added.
She said the government is preparing the books for the visually impaired students alongside the general students so that they do not lag behind.
We are also publishing books in the language of small ethnic groups. So far we have got five of their languages and published books in those languages, she added.
Sheikh Hasina directed the education ministry to continue its online education programmes as the coronavirus infection rate takes a curved situation.
The prime minister said the Covid-19 infection is usually seen to be rise immediately after the winter season in country. So, the education ministry will have to take preparation from now on to continue the online learning programmes in case of possible surge in Covid-19 infection, she said.
Since it will not be possible to keep schools open in case of fresh surge of Covid-19, measures will have to be taken to reach online teaching to every house, she added.
At the outset of the event, the prime minister unveiled the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations results alongside opening the free textbook distribution ceremony.
Chairmen of 11 education boards – nine general boards, one madrasah education board and one technical education board – handed over the results.
On behalf of the prime minister, education minister Dipu Moni received the results.
Candidates will be able to get their results from websites and through SMS.
Examinees can get the results from education board website, www.educationboardresults.gov.bd, and also from the websites of their respective education boards alongside respective education institutions.
A total of 22,78,098 students participated in the SSC and equivalent examinations from 11 education boards.
Education minister Dipu Moni, MP and state minister for primary and mass education Md. Zakir Hossen, MP also spoke.
Deputy minister for education Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury, MP delivered the welcome address, while secondary and higher education division secretary Md. Mahbub Hossain highlighted the different aspects of SSC and equivalent examinations results and book distribution.
Like previous year, the prime minister also inaugurated the free textbook distribution among the students of primary and secondary levels.
A total of 34,70,22,130 copies of books are being distributed among 4,17,26,856 students free of cost across the country.
On behalf of the prime minister, the education minister and the state minister for primary and mass education handed over the books among the selected students from the different educational institutions.
