Govt considers revamping school food distribution system

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The government is considering alternative ways of distributing food under its ongoing school feeding programme, including coupon-based systems and cooked meals, State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj said on Thursday.

Around three million students currently receive food daily through the programme. The government aims to ensure nutritional value, food safety, quality and accountability while maintaining its continuity, he said.

Bobby Hajjaj made the remarks during a meeting with a delegation led by World Food Programme (WFP) Bangladesh Resident Representative and Country Director Coco Ushiyama at the Secretariat.

He said feasibility studies, pilot projects and evaluations would be required before introducing alternative models, with preparations potentially taking six months to one year. He also stressed that the existing programme should continue during this process.

The State Minister revealed that the tenure of eight out of 26 procurement packages under the current programme had expired. The government was considering extending existing tenders or inviting new ones.

He also called for improvements in food safety, nutritional standards, transportation, storage and monitoring.

The WFP delegation proposed a rapid assessment of the programme, focusing on nutrition, food safety and operational capacity at the field level. It also offered technical assistance and expert support.

The delegation expressed interest in sharing international experiences from Sri Lanka, Pakistan and India, while highlighting the benefits of involving local farmers to improve student nutrition and support the local economy.