Harinakundo Protibandhi Bidyalay, a school for the children with disabilities in Harinakundo upazila, is in a dilapidated condition for want of government support, much to the sufferings of the challenged kids as well as the teachers and employees of the institution.

About 122 students of the institution have been taking lessons in the makeshift classrooms since the school started its journey about three years ago.

The school for the physically disabled children was established on 15 decimals of land donated by a local in Harinakundo upazila headquarters in 2016.

During a recent visit to the school, this correspondent saw that the children are suffering immensely for want of a brick-built building.

A number of teachers of the institution said due to lack of government support they are living a subhuman life as they have to bear all the expenditure of the institution on their own.

School sources said there are nine teachers and eight employees in the institution, which has four tin-shed classrooms, an office room and a couple of rickshaw-vans to pick up and drop the young learners.

Most of the students of the school, studying free of cost, are physically challenged while some are even unable to walk and speak. 

A van driver picks up and drops the student at their respective houses to and from the school  every day.

"My physically challenged daughter, who studies in the school, is improving day by day," said Paira Khatun, a guardian.

Students of the school on its premises. Photo: Star

Another guardian Alamgir Hossain said his son, who cannot walk and speak, can write now with the help of sign language as he receives lessons at the school.

Lovely Khatun, a teacher of the school, said,

"We have been continuing the service for nearly three years without any salaries. We also provide light food to students and arrange their  transportation facilities," she said.

The school authorities have appointed a sign language teacher to educate the speech-impaired students, said Md Akhtaruzzaman, .

Headmaster Rashedul Islam said he has already submitted all the necessary documents to the ministry of education for inclusion of the institution in MPO list.