Bihar government to start mid-day meals in schools from February 28

NEW DELHI: As schools reopen in Bihar, the state government has decided to start mid-day meals in schools from February 28, principal education secretary Sanjay Kumar said on social media.

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“schools have been reopened and BiharEducation⁩ dept is doing its best to compensate for learning losses by introducing 3 months catch up courses. #covidpandemic has also adversely impacted nutrition. Bihar is starting mid-day meal from February 28. #covidprotocol,” Kumar tweeted.

schools have been reopened and ⁦@BiharEducation_⁩ dept is doing its best to compensate for learning losses by introducing 3 months catch up courses.#covidpandemic has also adversely impacted nutrition.bihar is starting mid-day meal from 28/2/2022. #covidprotocol pic.twitter.com/alsLgVHiDO

— Sanjay Kumar (@sanjayjavin) February 22, 2022

In an official notification, the state education department asked schools to ensure to conduct mid-day meals in schools along with offline classes with COVID-19 protocols in place from February 28. The department also warned that strict action would be taken against schools that do not follow the instructions.

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Mid-day meals were closed in schools due to COVID-19 pandemic since 2020 and the government has been providing dry ration to students’ parents and transferring money for food to bank accounts of students, the education department said.

As the COVID-19 cases in the state improve, schools have reopened and thus mid-day meals can be started. Instructions for sanitisation of schools have also been issued, it said.

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The Bihar government decided to reopen schools from February 7. “In view of the improvement in the situation of corona infection, all schools up to Class 8 will open with 50% capacity and all schools for Classes 9 and above and colleges and coaching institutes will be able to open with 100% attendance,” Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said.