Hundreds of primary school students are facing serious problems following the local administration’s directive to close schools as the buildings are unsafe. In a letter, dated June 12, Saturia Upazila primary education officer Sabera Sultana had asked seven primary school authorities to
abandon their buildings as they developed multiple cracks.The seven schools are Radhanagor Registered Primary School, Chokemodhupur Registered Primary School, Kalikabari Primary School, Fazilabari Primary School, Patilapara Primary School, Mohisollohoa Primary School and Hazipur Primary School.
The letter was sent to the headmasters of the schools. It had asked the school authorities not to take any class or use the building for any academic purpose as the buildings could collapse anytime.
Sabera Sultana, in her letter, also suggested that the school authorities could find out alternative ways to continue academic activities. However, most schools are handicapped due to lack of funds.
While some school authorities are using nearby private houses, some schools are taking classes out in the open, ignoring rains or scorching heat. Many students are falling sick in the classes held under the sky and the attendance has become thin.
According to sources in the Saturia Upazila Primary Education Office, three classrooms and one teachers’ room of Radhanagor Registered Primary School were built under the supervision of the Saruria Upazila LGRD Department in 1994. But within a few years, cracks developed in the rooms as the building materials used were of poor quality.
Water seeps through the cracked class rooms even
after moderate rains, local people told The Independent when this correspondent recently visited the school.
The school authorities informed the matter to Saturia Upazila primary education officer Sabera Sultana on May 14.
On receiving of the letter, Saturia upazila engineer Ziaur Rahman visited Radhanagor Registered Primary School and ordered to close one of the rooms immediately. After a few days, Saturia Upazila primary education officer ordered the authorities to close the school as the building was very unsafe.
Taking to The Independent, Bithika Roy, headmistress of Radhanagor Registered Primary School, said, “Earlier, we took classes for 204 students in double shift. In the risky rooms, during the first shift, we held classes for Class 1. Later, we arranged classes for Class 3 students during the second shift.”
“In the other two cracked rooms, classes for Class-2, Class 4 and Class 5 were taken,” said Roy.
She added that after the order of the Saturia Upazila primary education officer, they had to take classes under the open sky.
A member of Radhanagor Registered Primary School Managment Committe on condition of annonomity said, “Though Saturia upazila primary education officer had asked us to find out alternative ways, we have no funds. Nor can we collect funds for alternative arrangement to take classes. If the government does not provide funds or repair the school building immediately, hundreds of students will suffer,” he said.
Hatem Ali, headmaster of Chokemodhupur Registered High School, said he had arranged classes for 217 students in a small room of Chonka Jobu and Kryira Songho, after the school building was abandoned.
Kalikabari Registered Primary School headmaster Mosharaf Hossain and Patilapara Registered High School headmaster Sirajul Islam said they are still taking classes inside the risky buildings.”
When asked, Sabera Sultana said the school authorities have been asked to find out alternative ways to run the schools, until new buildings are built.
Asked if no alternatives were available, Sabera Sultana said, “In that case, we need to find out suitable ways in consultation with respective school management committees.”
-With The Independent input
