Three schools in Naria upazila of Shariatpur were flooded recently and the water has not receded from those school grounds yet. As a result, teaching activities in these schools are being hampered severely.
Students of two of those schools are sitting for lessens under the open sky while students of the other school are attending classes on the yard of a neighboring house, where a makeshift shed has been made and school benches have been arranged for teaching.
The names of the three schools are Char Japsa Government Primary School, Mridha Kandi Government Primary School and East Naria Government Primary School.
Teachers of the third school said, “Schools across the country reopened on last Sunday (September 12) after remaining closed for a year and six months for Corona pandemic. However, the classrooms in our school were not in a suitable condition for teaching, as there was tidal water trapped inside the classrooms. So, we brought benches from the school to the yard of a nearby house and taking the classes there temporarily.”
Visiting in person on Wednesday (September 15), students were seen attending classes in such a miserable condition. Classes in the school started at 9:30 in the morning and continued till 12 noon on the yard of the adjacent house.
According to the locals, Purba Naria village in Naria upazila of Shariatpur was hit hard by Padma River erosion in 2018. In that village there was a pucca building of East Naria Government Primary School, which was destroyed in the same year due to the aggression of Padma.
“Later, a tin-shed house with four rooms was temporarily constructed in the village to resume the teaching activity of the school. The attendance of the students decreased however, as the new location was farther. In the meantime, classes closed down for Corona pandemic. Now, when the classes have started again, it is not possible to hold classes in the school due to tidal water and mud”, they added.
Headmaster of Purba Naria Government Primary School Asma Akhter said, “The pucca school building was washed away by the river in August 2018. Later, the district education office helped to build a temporary tin house in the area. Although the school is open now, it is not possible to hold classes there for tidal water and mud. So, we are taking classes on the yard of a nearby house. However, as the water has started to recede classes might soon be held in the school. However, some students might drop out of the school if a concrete building is not allotted soon.”
Anika and Sabbir, two class five students of East Naria Government Primary School said, “Our school was destroyed by the Padma River. Now there is a new school building made of corrugated tin at another place. There is now tidal water trapped inside the new school building so, we are unable to sit for classes there. Classes are currently being taken at a nearby house. It would be nice if we had a concrete school building.”
Headmaster of Char Japsa Government Primary School Helena Akhter said, “It was not possible to take classes at the school as tidal water had entered the school grounds. So we are taking classes in the yard of a house near the school. Students as well as we are suffering a lot to attend the classes.”
Shariatpur District Education Officer Abul Kalam Azad said, “Due to recent tidal wave water entered into the school ground disrupting regular classes there. It is impossible to take classes at those three schools for now so, classes are running at a nearby house. Classes will start at the school buildings as soon as the water recedes.”