Meena Day observed
Teachers for corporal punishment to be punished: minister
The primary and mass education minister, Afsarul Amin, on Friday said cases would be filed against any teacher who would be found to exercise corporal punishment in classrooms.
‘Ensuring attendances in school is not enough; they will have to be properly educated where the government has decided to train up more teachers soon,’ he said this at a function marking Meena Day with the theme of ‘going to school is the only one work for children; no children will remain outside education’ in the city.
The central event of the day was held at LGED-RDEC auditorium in the morning.
The Ministry of Primary and Mass Education and UNICEF organised the programme attended by children, parents, teachers and policy makers.
Addressing as chief guest, the minister said Meena was a symbol of girl child who sensitises people to child rights. This cartoon character will be successful when every child will enjoy their basic rights as soon as possible.
To celebrate Meena Day in the country, government and non-government organisations organised different programmes including discussion, puppet and moppet shows, rally and cultural programme.
Speaking as special guest, state minister of primary and mass education Motaher Hossain said the country was failing to provide quality education for lack of experienced teachers in the institutions.
UNICEF education chief Nabendra Dahal urged the parents and teachers not to exercise corporal punishment both at home and school.
Animation character Meena not only advocates the rights of children but also helps create awareness about raising children in the proper way.
To uphold the rights of girl child, Bangladesh has been observing Meena Day since 1998 and the day continues to be celebrated each year across the country.
The character, Meena, created in 1991 during the ‘Girl Child Decade’ of SAARC, started her journey addressing issues like education, water, sanitation and hygiene, management of diarrhoea, dowry, early marriage, injury prevention and child protection.
