55 schools get new houses, not furniture

Though constructions of the new academic buildings for 55 government primary schools in five upazilas were completed months ago, classroom furniture are yet to be supplied to those institutions, compelling students to take their lessons on floors.

School authorities have continued knocking the Local Government Engineering (LGED) and district primary education authorities since the handing over of the buildings, but they are yet to get any response.

Of the 55 government primary schools, 18 are in Hatibandha upazila, 11 in Patgram, nine in Kaliganj, seven in Hatibandha and 10 in Sadar upazila, according to the sources at Lalmonirhat LGED office.

Headmaster Lutfa Shirin of Bhabanipur Government Primary School in Hatibandha upazila said though LGED authority handed over the newly constructed school building about seven months ago, she is yet to receive furniture for the classrooms.

“Due to lack of chairs, tables and benches students are taking their lessons on the floor,” the headmaster said, adding that a total of 255 students read in the school.

“Our school building is very nice looking, but it is really sad for us not to have classroom furniture for our students,” said Khadijatul Kobra, an assistant teacher of the school.

“Though we got a new academic building, we don't know when we will get the furniture for the classrooms,” Purbobisondoi Shakelpara Government Primary School Headmaster Asaduzzaman said.

Lalmonirhat LGED Executive Engineer AKM Amiruzzaman said LGED only implements the construction of school buildings and education department looks after the supply of furniture for those new academic buildings.

“We have asked the school authorities to contact with the education department authorities for supply of classroom furniture,” he said.

Lalmonirhat District Primary Education Officer Nabez Uddin said they have sent a list of the newly constructed schools to the higher authority.

“I heard that a contractor in the capital was given the work order to supply furniture in the newly constructed school buildings,” he added.