The Ministry of Primary and Mass Education has initiated a significant renaming endeavour, altering the names of 247 government primary schools across the country due to negative connotations associated with their previous names.
On Wednesday, Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, Mohammad Kabir Uddin, issued a notification in compliance with the directive of the President regarding this renaming initiative.
Among the notable changes, Godagacha Government Primary School in Lalpur Upazila of Natore has been rebranded as Salampur Government Primary School.
Similarly, Chormara Government Primary School in Kazipur Upazila of Sirajganj is now known as Matrichaya Government Primary School, and Chuldhari
Government Primary School in the same upazila has been renamed Phulchari Government Primary School. Additionally, Ranishankail Government Primary School in Thakurgaon has transitioned to Barnamala Government Primary School.
This renaming initiative extends to 247 government primary schools located in various districts nationwide, aiming to assign them more appealing and meaningful names.
Previously, on the first day of the current year, the government undertook a similar action by renaming 11 government primary schools
across the country, including those with names like Kukurmara and Sialmari, which were deemed to have negative implications. Out of these, nine schools are situated in Chuadanga, with the remaining two in Narsingdi. The Ministry of Primary and Mass Education issued a notification announcing these name changes on the commencement of the new year.
The ministry clarified that the renaming decision was made in accordance with the existing policy governing the naming and renaming of government primary schools, aiming to eliminate names that could potentially have adverse effects on children and the public.
Highlighted among the recent changes is the renaming of Kukurmara Govt.
Primary School in Belabo Upazila of Narsingdi to Shantipur Govt. Primary School, and in Raipura Upazila, Adiabad Government Primary School is now referred to as Dr Moniruzzaman Government Primary School.
The offensive nature of certain school names had been a subject of widespread discussion and criticism across various media platforms, including social media.
Responding to this concern, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education initiated the renaming process in 2023, leading to the subsequent step-by-step transition of these school names.