Tale of a risky school in Madaripur

Students of Kalinagar Hawldarkandi Government Primary School in Madaripur’s Kalkini upazila had been attending their classes in a nearby makeshift tin-shed house for a decade as the school building was declared abandoned due to its risky condition in 2009.

It has turned into a virtual cowshed as a number of cattle are now roaming in the school building, said locals.

Established in 1995, the school was nationalised in 2013. There are 105 students and five teachers in the school.

During a recent visit, this correspondent found that the tin-shed house is not a dwelling anymore as the windows, door, tin-roof and walls have been broken down. Cows and goats were roaming in the school building.   

Gias Uddin, headmaster of the school, said the tin-shed house was built for students and teachers since the school building was declared abandoned due to its risky condition in 2009.

Since then they have been taking classes there but the tin-shed house was damaged by a storm two years ago, he said. 

They informed the higher authorities about the matter several times but any step is yet to be taken in this regard, said the headmaster.

Abdul Rahim, a student of Class IV, said “We cannot continue our class during the rainy season as the tin-roof was damaged.”

Naimul Islam, a student of Class V, said “We cannot tolerate the heat for not having any electric fan in the tin-shed house although there is power connection in the dwelling.”

Kohinur Begum, a guardian, said her daughter does not want to go to the school as there is no arrangement for toilet and tube-well.

Upazila Education Officer Md Shahidul Islam said “As I’m new here, I have no idea about the school. After visiting the school, I will take necessary steps.”