Schoolground turns into paddy land
The palyground of a school in Barguna's Betagi upazila remians covered with plants most of the year as the school authorities cultivate paddy and other crops on the land, depriving the students of a place to play.
Dakkhin Hosnabad Government Primary School was established in 1972 on 1.21 acres of land, said Headmaster Abdul Jalilur Rahman. There is a tin-shed schoolhouse on 20 decimals of land, while the rest of the land has been used for farming since the school was established, he added.
The school does not have any signboard.
During a recent visit to the institution, this correspondent saw around 40 students there. A Class IV student said they cannot play in the field as it is covered with different crops round the year. Aus, Aman and even Robi crops are cultivated on the field round the year and they have to hold assembly on the veranda for most of the year, he added.
Locals said there is another tin-shed on the campus where some cows and goats are kept at night, and the school managing committee (SMC) president, Md Siddiqur Rahman also keeps some buffaloes. The dung spreads a bad smell all around, they added.
Local people cannot protest about it as the president of the managing committee is an influential person in the area.
Headmaster Abdul Jalilur Rahman said paddy is cultivated on the school field as per instruction from the managing committee's president.
“I joined here only four months ago. I did not know about the matter earlier,” he said, adding that the president of the managing committee can say better about the matter.
Now the field is free as paddy was harvested recently, he added.
The SMC president said the school field is used for cultivation to increase school income that is spent on various development works. He declined to make any more comments in this regard.
Betagi Upazila Education Officer Md Jahangir Alam said he has heard about the matter and asked Assistant Upazila Education Officer Md Obaidullah, to look into the matter.
Obaidullah said, "It is true that the school field is used for cultivating crops. We will take steps after discussing the matter with the higher authorities."
Comments