The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) has suspended the implementation of the ‘Scientific Lifestyle Development and Mental Health Services’ program in educational institutions across Bangladesh. The decision was made official through an office order signed on Thursday (March 12) by Professor Dr. Khan Moinuddin Al Mahmud Sohel, Director (Secondary) of DSHE.
The office order stated that the earlier directive, issued through a memorandum on March 5, instructing all DSHE-affiliated schools and colleges to implement the program in phases, has now been put on hold.
Background of the Program
Earlier, on March 8, DSHE had announced that, following instructions from the Ministry of Education, the program would be conducted nationwide based on a manual prepared by the Quantum Foundation. Under the initiative:
- One-day training sessions were planned for teachers and students of participating institutions, free of charge.
- Principals were instructed to coordinate with Quantum Foundation trainers to schedule the sessions at convenient times.
- A ‘monitoring pool’ was to be established in each institution to track students’ daily exercises after the training, ensuring long-term benefits.
- Expansion of activities beyond the manual’s scope was strictly prohibited.
- Arrangements for newly admitted students each year were also planned to continue the training program.
The suspension comes before the program could be rolled out in schools and colleges, and no further instructions regarding rescheduling or future implementation have been issued so far.
The DSHE emphasized that the decision aims to ensure proper planning and compliance before nationwide execution.
Key Points:
- DSHE suspends lifestyle and mental health program in schools and colleges.
- Office order signed by DSHE Director (Secondary) on March 12.
- Program was to be implemented in phases across all institutions based on Quantum Foundation manual.
- Planned activities included teacher-student training, monitoring pools, and yearly induction training.
- Suspension applies immediately, pending further instructions.
This move has paused a government-backed initiative aimed at promoting scientific lifestyle habits and mental health awareness among students, highlighting the challenges in implementing new programs at a national scale.
