Delwar Kabir, Jhenaidah
More than 500 students of Nagerhat Secondary School in Bogra Union of Shailkupa Upazila in Jhenaidah are attending classes in dilapidated buildings that could collapse at any time. Cracks have appeared in the ceilings, plaster is falling off, and reinforcement bars are exposed. Doors and windows are broken, while polythene has been laid over parts of the roof to prevent rainwater from entering classrooms. During rainfall, students' books and clothes get wet, while intense heat makes classrooms uncomfortable in summer.
The school also faces a shortage of classrooms, forcing teachers to conduct lessons in storerooms. Broken writing boards create further difficulties, while waterlogging on the school grounds disrupts sports and sometimes prevents regular assemblies.
Parents are concerned about their children's safety. Locals say they often discourage their children from attending school because of the poor condition of the buildings, while some students are reluctant to come out of fear.
According to school sources, Nagerhat Secondary School was established in 1881 on 74 decimals of land. The institution now has around 500 students. A science building was constructed in 1980, followed by another building built by the Facilities Department in 1997. Both have deteriorated over the years.
Teachers and the school management committee have repeatedly applied to the authorities for a new academic building, but no permanent solution has been found.
During a recent visit, it was found that the school has 11 rooms, including classrooms, the headmaster's room, assistant teachers' rooms and offices. Most are in poor condition, with cracks in walls and ceilings, fallen plaster and exposed reinforcement bars. The old tin-shed structure is also badly damaged, with broken doors and windows and bricks falling from the walls.
Students said the poor infrastructure was adversely affecting their studies. Student Sejuti said, "We attend classes amid considerable risk and fear. Sometimes sand and debris fall from the roof onto us. When it rains, water enters the classrooms and soaks our books and notebooks. Other schools have such beautiful buildings, but ours is in such a bad condition. We want a safe building."
Another student, Ferdousi Khatun, said, "Our school is very old, but we still do not have a good building. The broken board makes writing difficult. We want a new school building to be constructed as soon as possible."
Rana Hasan, a student's guardian, said, "The condition of this 145-year-old school is very poor. Students are attending classes at the risk of their lives. A new building has become urgently necessary. I urge the concerned authorities to arrange its construction as soon as possible."
Teachers said constructing a new building alone would not resolve all the institution's longstanding problems. They also called for permanent infrastructural development and nationalisation of the school. Teacher Pradeep Mondal said, "This school has long played an important role in the education of the area. However, the infrastructure crisis is causing various problems for teachers and students. We urgently need a new academic building. Nationalisation would also help improve the organisation of educational activities."Another teacher, Sumon Rana, said, "Despite being a 145-year-old institution, the school still faces many basic problems. We have to conduct classes in risky buildings and use storerooms because of the shortage of classrooms. I urge the authorities to arrange a new building quickly and consider nationalising the school."
Headmaster Mukul Hossain said the two buildings, including the tin-shed structure, had been in a dangerous condition for a long time. Despite repeated applications to the authorities for an academic building, no solution had been forthcoming. "During rainfall, water enters through the roof and soaks students' books and notebooks. Providing the school with a new building is now an urgent necessity," he said. He added that nationalisation, alongside infrastructural development, would further improve the school's educational environment and urged the concerned authorities to look into the matter.
Jhenaidah District Secondary Education Officer Lutfar Rahman said, "We are monitoring school buildings that are in risky condition. Law Minister Md. Asaduzzaman has already enquired about this matter. We hope new buildings will soon be constructed to replace unsafe school buildings." #EK
