An SOS for a primary school

Two teachers conduct separate classes under the same roof without any wall or partition as Char Raninagar Registered Primary School in Pabna Sadar upazila has remained in similar conditions since the Padma River devoured the concrete structures of the school in 2007.Photo: STAR

Devoured by river in 2007, the school now runs in a tin-shed just for lack of fund

A shed made of corrugated iron sheets is all that houses Char Raninagar Registered Primary School in Pabna Sadar upazila.
“During the storm on April 4 afternoon, we ran for shelter, leaving our books, khatas (writing pads) and pens. Later when we came to collect those, many of the materials were damaged,” Md Idris Ali, a student of class four, said as this correspondent visited the school last week.
They are suffering such problems for the last three years.
Established at Modhyapara village in 1973, the school got registration as Char Raninagar Registered Primary School in 1980. Funded by Local Government Engineering Department, two buildings of the school cum community centre were constructed at a cost of Tk 14.2 lakh in 1990.
After the Padma River devoured the concrete structures in 2007, authorities made a tin-shed in a nearby area to continue schooling of the local children.
But the mighty river devoured the land in January this year and the school was shifted to 2.5km away Char Raninagar Sardarpara where the school authority had bought 33 decimals of land.
“We have shifted our school to this land and erected a tin-shed with the help of villagers. But no wall could be set due to the lack of fund,” said Md Mozahar Ali, headmaster of the school.
"We are yet to get any government help for reconstruction of the school although we submitted application to Pabna district administration, district board office, upazila chairman, upazila nirbahi officer and the primary education department," he said.
The 66-feet-long shed of the school is too small to accommodate 326 students of classes one to five while only three classes can be conducted at a time as there are only three teachers at the school, said Md Kamrul Hassan Eusuf, a teacher.
“Classes are often disturbed due to noise as there is no partition between classes. There is no latrine, water source and other facilities here. Small children often rush to their houses to drink water," he said.
The president of the school managing committee, Md Badsha Sardar said that the local lawmaker assured them of trying his best to arrange government sanction for the school.
District Primary Education Officer Md Ekramul Haque said process is on to construct a building for the school.