Kids continue to suffer for want of repair

Kids of Bilnothar Government Primary School in Sherpur upazila of Bogra take lessons in the shades of a tree as their schoolhouse, damaged by a storm in May, was yet to be repaired. PHOTO: STAR

Students of Bilnothar Government Primary School in Sherpur upazila of the district attend classes under the open sky as the schoolhouse, badly damaged by a storm in May this year, is yet to be rebuilt.

Established in 1973 on the bank of the Bangalee River, three classrooms and the office room of the tin-roofed school were damaged by a nor'wester on May 22, forcing the teachers to teach around 210 students on the premises of the school.

While visiting the institution in the remote area under Khamarkandi union of the upazila recently, this correspondent found the students attending classes in an open space under a tree.

Headmistress Mahamuda Begum said, academic activities of the institution are being hampered due to lack of classrooms. “As per advice of the upazila education officer, “I submitted an application to the upazila project implementation office for reconstruction of the storm-damaged schoolhouse more than three months ago, but to no effect yet,” she alleged.

Abdul Kuddus, a member of the school managing committee, said their repeated appeal for reconstruction of the school fell on deaf ears of the local administration. He urged the authorities concerned to build a concrete schoolhouse as soon as possible.

Upazila Primary Education Officer Masud Rana said they have already informed the education department and the director general (DG) of  primary and mass education of the matter and sought funds for construction of a new school building.

Meanwhile, local lawmaker Mohammad Habibur Rahman recently procured two tons of wheat as help for the school. The wheat was sold for Tk 54 thousand to rebuild the school soon, sources said.