Second term school examinations had to be postponed as a large number of these institutions have been submerged while others are being used as shelters for flood-affected people.

Floods in the north and northeastern regions of the country have forced the National University to delay and reschedule 1st year honours examinations. The exams will now start on August 23.

Of the 1,412 flood shelters opened by the government, most are being operated in educational institutions, according to the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management.

According to the flood control centre, flooding this year has damaged 317 educational institutions completely and 4,628 partially.

More educational institutions are being flooded each day causing the postponement of 2nd term examinations in schools and colleges, said sources at education ministry, primary and mass education ministry and Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE).

"Classes and 2nd term examinations in primary schools in flood-affected areas have been suspended until the flood situation improves," said M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, secretary in charge of Ministry of Primary and Mass Education.

Around 5,000 primary-level educational institutions have been affected by floods and a large number of them have been badly damaged, he added.

DSHE and the education ministry are monitoring the situation through Central Monitoring Centre.

"We have opened monitoring cells at all flood-affected districts. We are collecting information about government educational institutions through regional DSHE offices and information about non-government educational institutions [is being collected] through seven secondary and higher secondary education boards," said Babul Kumar Saha, deputy secretary of education ministry.

Most areas in north and northeastern districts, especially in Sirajganj, Munshiganj, Rajbari, Faridpur, Comilla, Bogra, Pabna, Gaibandha, Nilphamari, Kurigram, Shariatpur, Rangpur, Manikganj, Dohar, Sunamganj, and Madaripur are now inundated by floodwater.

Apart from being damaged by floodwater, facilities in many educational establishments in these districts are being damaged by flood-affected people, said sources at the education ministry.

Funds are yet to be allocated to repair these educational institutions.

"We will talk with top officials about allocating additional funds to repair the affected schools. We don't know the exact figure of affected educational institutions. Usually, the government allocates additional funds, but this year we are not aware of any such funds," said Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, secretary in charge of Ministry of Primary and Mass Education.

"Affected institutions will be repaired from the annual 'repair and rehabilitation fund' and the repair work will begin as soon as the floodwater recedes," said an official at Education Engineering Department.

The flood hampers educational activities heavily as there are only 228 workdays at government schools.

Meanwhile, National Front of Teachers and Employees yesterday proposed helping the flood-affected people by donating one day's salary of teachers and employees of all non-government high schools, colleges and madrasas to the relief fund of the government.