Classes under open sky till there is no rain

Students of Naobhanga Alim Madrasa, have to attend classes under the open sky since houses of the two institutions were destroyed by cyclone Mahasen on May 16.

Academic activities of the schools, colleges and madrasas that were damaged during the onslaught of cyclone Mahasen on May 16 are greatly hampered during the ongoing rainy season as the institutions have remained without any repair.
In Patuakhali district, 208 educational institutions (primary and high schools, madrasas and colleges) were fully damaged and 352 others partly damaged by Mahasen, said sources at the district administration.
The fully damaged institutions include 97 in Kalapara upazila, 56 in Rangabali, 52 in Galachipa, two in Dashmina and one in Dumki upazila under Patuakahli district.
Visiting Naubhanga Alim Madrasa in Nilganj union under Kalapara upazila a couple of days ago, this correspondent found students attending their classes under the open sky as the lone tin-shed house of the institution was ravaged by the cyclone.
"We arrange classes on the sunny days but it cannot be done when it starts raining. Authorities should take immediate step to repair the institution as the rains have already set in," said Ziaul Islam Habib, principal of the madrasa.
Similar scene was found at Nabipur Government Primary School in the same union as two tin-shed houses of the school were fully damaged by the cyclone. Benches, chairs and tables were also found broken there.
Sathi Akhter, a student of Class V, said, "We have to attend classes under the open sky. Classes break and our books and khatas wet when rain comes."
"We conducted classes only four days during the last two weeks as it rained most of the days. Authorities concerned did not take any step although we sent several letters demanding immediate repair of the institution," Md Ruhul Amin, headmaster of the school.
Ruhul Amin, monitoring officer of Patuakhali Primary Education Office, and Sukumer Chandra Halder, district education officer, said they have already sent the lists of the damaged educational institutions under their jurisdictions to the higher authorities concerned but they yet to get any response.
Patuakhali Deputy Commissioner Amitavo Sarker said, "We are waiting for getting allocation from the higher authorities concerned for distribution on an emergency basis to rebuild the damaged educational institutions."

Students of Anjapara Community Primary School in Kalapara upazila under Patuakhali district have to attend classes under the open sky since houses of the two institutions were destroyed by cyclone Mahasen on May 16. Photo: Star