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3,000 schools, colleges shut in flood-hit areas

Academic activities face serious disruption


Published : 19 Jul 2019 09:05 PM | Updated : 07 Sep 2020 08:18 AM

Devastating floods have forced authorities to shut over 3,000 educational institutions in most areas of the country’s north-west and east regions leaving lakhs of students in total academic uncertainty. At least 3,000 educational institutions, mainly in Jamalpur, Gaibandha, Sylhet, Kurigram, Sirajganj and Bogura have already been temporarily closed following the heavy floods, our local correspondents report.

Floods have even washed away around a dozen academies into rivers in these areas. Besides, the floods have also affected hundreds of institutions that will take time to repair, say our correspondents after visiting the affected areas and quoting the locals and officials in district education offices. The examinees of the Bachelor of Arts (BA pass course) of the flood affected areas have urged the authorities to defer their 2nd year final exam on humanitarian consideration. The exam started July 2.

In Jamalpur, following the massive floods, authorities have declared the closure of 1012 educational entities in the district, disrupting the studies of around 1.5 lakh students. As of 18 July, 702 primary level schools and 310 secondary schools were declared closed due to the worsening flood situation. In Sylhet, more than 600 primary, secondary and higher secondary schools and Madrashas have been shut due to the heavy floods. In the division, the highest 465 educational institutions were announced closed only in the Sunamganj district.

Sylhet divisional primary education office sources said, the ongoing floods have swamped at least 819 educational entities out of 5044 in its four districts.
The activities of these institutes will resume immediately after the flood water recedes, they said. In Gaibandha, 369 educational institutions in the district were forced to shut down following the worsening flood.

Enayet Hossain, district education officer said, four primary schools and a secondary school in the district have washed into the river due to serious erosion.
Almost all parts of the district are now under water, disrupting public activities. Despite lowering of the water levels of Brahmaputra and Dharla rivers, the flood situation in Kurigram district remains unchanged following the fresh erosion of the banks of these two rivers.

In the district, 285 educational institutions remain closed due to heavy to construct the floods. District primary education officer, Shahidul Islam told the media that most of the educational buildings of the district were submerged and that is why they were forced to postpone the activities of these entities considering the security of thousands of students.

In Sirajganj, correspondent the rising trenf of the Jamuna River was still continuing, flooding at least 280 schools, college, and madrashas in the district. Apart from this, the Jamuna also eroded 6 schools, leaving hundreds of students with an uncertain future. In Bogura, at least 61 educational institutions in the district were temporarily declared closed following the worsening flood condition.