About 1.7 lakh primary school students even in remoter villages in Jhenaidah have been enjoying the washroom and safe drinking water facilities at the schools when the government had constructed multi-storied buildings for them. It has been helping increase the number of the students and preventing the drop out trend among them. It will also help grow good citizens in near and far future in the environment-friendly atmosphere, said the teachers and the officials of the primary education department.
Shapla Khatun, and Zannati Khatun, 11, both class five students of Jabalun Noor Government Primary School at village Habibpur Shailkupa upazila of Jhenaidah when talked at their school said they were very happy when the authorities had constructed wash block including the toilets for both male and female students at it was a burning problem in the educational institution. But a good number of minor learners were leaving the school due to natural calls at any time. The girl students comparably elder in age, did not back to classes when they left the school to respond the natural calls.
Jabalun Noor Government Primary School headmaster Anju Rani Biswas when contacted said the government had constructed a two-storied building equipped with separate wash blocks for boys and girls in 2019. Now every student uses the block and wash their hands on the washroom set up at the front side of the varanda. Adequate handwashing soap and other materials are ready there for cleanness. The learners themselves clean the same when they use themselves.
Although six female teachers are providing education to 140 students including 69 girls, they have been facing safety measures as there was boundary wall around the school. Further, both the minor students and teachers face road communication problem to enter and exit through the three-meters wide muddy road. No vehicles can enter in to the school anyway for the lack of road.
The loan tubewell frequently goes out of order due the water level fall problems need a new one submersible pump for the school, she said.
Shahidul Islam, a guardian of a student when contacted said now they feel better when their children are free from toilet and washing problems. Now each and every student feels free to enjoy the facilities at school as much they need. It has ben helping increase the number of enrolments of new students every year, Shahidul Islam said. District Primary Education Officer (DPEO) in Jhenaidah Ananda Kishsore Saha when contacted said a good number of primary schools out of total 907 have been enjoying the washroom, safe drinking and other water using facilities at the schools. Further, they have been learning every day to keep their health and hygiene well through the good practices.
Each and every school will be provided with modern and well-equipped facilities so that the minor learners could be grown as good citizens and participate in nation building activities towards the Smart Bangladesh, DPEO said.