WITH nearly two months of ongoing hartal and oborodh, the academic calendar for millions of children continues to be adversely affected. Amid security concerns that have led attendance rates nearly all over the country to plummet, students, parents and teachers find themselves in a predicament as to how to maintain a regular schedule. This unending disruption of studies is extremely disconcerting for obvious reasons; it also begs the question, is education for our children held in any esteem at all by our opposition parties? 

SSC exams have already been pushed back multiple times and most schools in the capital remain closed. Meanwhile, despite rural districts having been afflicted with more deaths and injuries overall, schools have been kept open in places like Khulna and Bagerhat. However, feelings of anxiety run high in the country and the mode of transport remains a problem. Teachers, too, face added risk as they commute to and from work. 

Isn't it time we stop holding our future generation hostage to further our political agendas? This prolonged political instability and violence surely have an adverse effect on our youth in the short-run by hampering learning and causing different forms of anxieties; but in the long run, it may also foster in them a sense of alienation from politics.

We reiterate our call to the opposition to withdraw their destructive programme and allow students to go back to their regular routines. Meanwhile, we urge the Education Ministry to strategise ways to recompense for the lost time.