While she had no access to formal education, Saleha Begum, a resident of Char Kashem and a mother of six, dreams of sending her children to school. But that dream is yet to be fulfilled since not a single school exists in the char.

With no options in sight, she has no idea what to do to ensure education for her children.

Char Kashem is an isolated char of Rangabali, which in itself is an isolated upazila of Patuakhali.

Saleha's husband Alam Ghazi is a fisherman, and their family survives on whatever he is able to catch in a day. Living hand to mouth and with no education, it seemed like their fates were already written for them.

So, Saleha married off her three daughters, and her only son helps her husband catch fish.

All the families living in the area have similar woes.

Although about 600 people live in Char Kashem, there's no primary school or any other educational institution for that matter. So, the children there remain illiterate.

Rezaul Howlader was only able to send one of his three sons to a primary school, that too in another nearby char. The other two have to help their father catch fish. The younger son, Deen Islam, is now studying in second grade.

Deen has to cross an entire five kilometres over a river to attend classes. That's why his father can't take him to school every day.

Amid the rainy season, Deen can't go to school for about six months, owing to turbulent waters. His father said if there were a school in Char Kashem, these troubles would go away and all children would get the opportunity to study.

"We got colourful tin houses through the government's Ashrayan project. Even though we have a roof over our heads, our future is grim as we can't educate our children," said Rezaul.

Contacted, Assistant Primary Education Officer of Rangabali Sagir Hossain said a proposal was sent to the Directorate of Primary Education six months ago to set up a school in Char Kashem.

"If the department approves, a school will be set up there," he said.