Flood affected schools need repair to resume proper functioning

The recent flood badly hampered academic activities in 43 institutions of Gaibandha’s Saghata upazila.

The institutions including 35 government primary schools, six high schools and two madrasas had to be closed due to the flooding.

Following the recession of floodwater, several of them started functioning after long three weeks while many others are yet to resume classes due to damage of education materials, furniture and entrance roads.

“Attendance of students at my school is still thin as proper sitting arrangement is yet to be restored. The entrance road went under water and strong current damaged it. The ground is yet to be fit for playing,” said Jahangir Alam, headmaster of Amadirpara Government Primary School.

The flood caused damage worth over Tk 3 lakh to the school, he said.

“My textbooks were destroyed in floodwater, as our dwelling house went under six-foot-deep water and we took shelter at another place,” said Farida Akhter, a student of Class IV.

Azizur Rahman, upazila primary education officer of Saghata, said they have already received reports on flood-induced damage from the affected educational institutions and forwarded it to higher authorities with recommendations to initiate renovation work on priority basis for smooth running of classes.