50 Patuakhali pry school buildings in awful state
At least 50 primary school buildings in all eight upazilas of the district have become unfit for use due to lack of maintenance for a long time.
The district primary education office has sent a list of 40 schools to the higher authorities, seeking immediate renovation of those so that academic activities can continue. All the schools were built between1980 and 2007.
The vulnerable school buildings in Patuakhali sadar upazila are Marichbunia Government Primary school, Bollovpur Government Primary School, Chotobighai Government Primary School, Kamalapur SDO Government Primary School, Dakkhin Chandukhali Government Primary School, Paschim Gabua Government Primary School, Uttar Moukaran Government Primary School, Moddhom Sehakathi Government Primary School, Purba Moukaran Government Primary School, and Moddhom Kakrabunia Government Primary School.
Of the remaining 40 school houses, 10 are in Golachipa upazila and five each in Bauful, Dumki, Mirazganj, Dashmina and Rangabali upazilas.
Students in most of these schools suffer for lack of space for holding classes. Rain water enters these buildings through broken windows and plaster is falling off the walls and roofs. Classes are being held in tin-shed houses in most areas, sources said.Marichbunia Government Primary School in Sadar upazila was declared risky in 2013.
Md Shahab Uddin, headmaster of the school, said Nilufa Yasmin, assistant upazila education officer, visited the school on May 14, 2013 and wrote in the visitor's book that the school building was risky. She suggested shifting of the school activities to another place, he added.
Accordingly, the authorities concerned shifted the school's activities to a nearby madrasa.
Md Ashraf Hossain, headmaster of Kamalapur SDO Government Primary School, said "We are always afraid as plaster falls off the roof and walls. The iron rods became exposed, making the building dangerous."
We have sent a letter to the upazila education office to take immediate steps to repair the school building, he added.
Md Lutfur Rahman, Patuakhali Sadar upazila education officer, said he has sent the list of vulnerable schools to the district education office for taking immediate steps to repair the buildings.
Md Bakhtiar Uddin, assistant district primary education officer, said "We sent a list of 40 vulnerable schools of all eight upazilas (five from each upazila) to the Directorate of Primary Education on August 26 this year to take necessary steps in the matter, but we have not received any reply as yet."
Comments