Why are so many school buildings so poorly maintained?
It is appalling that at least 141 school buildings in Bagerhat's nine upazilas are in such a dilapidated condition that teachers and guardians of the students fear that accidents may occur anytime. Several of the buildings have been declared abandoned but classes are still being taken in some as there are no alternatives. Other schools have made makeshift classrooms with tin roofs and bamboo fences in the playgrounds which expose the children to the scorching heat and storms. Many children have stopped going to these schools altogether.
So why has such a crucial matter as maintenance of school buildings been treated with such neglect and apathy? We are talking about the lives of children here as well as their education, which is being severely disrupted because of this situation. Last month, a nine-year-old girl died after chunks of ceiling plaster fell on her in a classroom in a government primary school in Barguna. At least 10 more students were injured. According to a report in this paper, the upazila education officer had sent a list of risky buildings in his area to the higher authorities but nothing could be done because of apparent fund shortage. The school in Barguna had been built 20 years ago with little or no repairs done. We can assume this is also the case of the 141 schools in Bagerhat and many more school buildings all over the country.
It is high time the education ministry took this precarious situation seriously. If it is a question of fund constraint, it is the ministry's responsibility to get those funds from the government and carry out such essential maintenance work. There is just no excuse for such disregard for children's safety and their uninterrupted education. We hope immediate steps will be taken to make sure that students are not inside such buildings and repairs will be made as soon as possible so that the children may go back to school without the risk of being injured or killed.
Comments