Emergency Directive from the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education

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News Desk: The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) has instructed educational institutions to conduct sports, co-curricular and cultural activities throughout the year alongside academic education to enhance students’ overall skills as well as their physical and mental development.

The directive was issued in a circular signed by Professor Md. Shahidul Islam, Deputy Director (Physical Education) of DSHE, on Thursday (September 11). The circular was sent to all regional directors, deputy directors (secondary) and district education officers across the country.

The circular instructed educational institutions to give importance to sports, co-curricular and cultural activities and to conduct these activities throughout the year in coordination with academic activities.

A total of 35 activities have been listed in the directive. Of these, 15 are sports activities, including football, volleyball, chess, cricket, table tennis, kabaddi, badminton, handball, basketball, hockey, rural and traditional games, swimming, athletics, taekwondo and martial arts.

The list of co-curricular activities includes 13 subjects. These include Hamd and Naat, Bengali and English speeches and debates, impromptu speeches, wall magazine creation, reading books, reading daily newspapers, creative writing, environmental protection, digital content creation, mental health awareness, the Mathematics Olympiad and the ‘One Child One Tree’ programme.

In addition, music, recitation, solo acting, quizzes, dance, graffiti drawing, festival and heritage-related programmes, and drawing have been included under cultural activities.

The circular said these activities must be conducted throughout the year at convenient times in coordination with the academic activities of educational institutions. Importance has also been given to ensuring students’ regular participation.

In addition, educational institutions have been instructed to give due importance to operating various organizations and clubs, including Boy Scouts, Rover Scouts, Girl Guides, science clubs, debate clubs, and health and physical education clubs.

DSHE said that alongside academic education, students’ participation in sports, co-curricular and cultural activities will contribute to their physical and mental development.