Floods cause Tk2.5cr damage to primary schools in Manikganj

Erosion by the Jamuna River has completely damaged three government primary schools in Daulatpur upazila of Manikganj, while water from the Padma-Jamuna rivers has also submerged the playgrounds and classrooms of most of the government primary schools in the district.

Besides, several other primary school buildings have also been severely affected by the floods.

There are 651 government primary schools in Manikganj. Of these, 306 were damaged by two phases of floods this season, and the government will have to spend around Tk2.60 crore to repair them.

Officials of the district primary education department have written to the primary education department to take necessary action after assessing the damage to the flood-affected schools.

Educational institutions will reopen as soon as the coronavirus situation normalises, so teachers want the classrooms of affected schools made ready for teaching.

According to the district primary education office, the floods have caused damage of Tk76.95 lakh in 70 primary schools in Manikganj Sadar upazila.

Similarly, the damage amounts to Tk59 lakh in 68 schools of Ghiorupazila, Tk54.50lakh in 40 schools of Singair, Tk12.45 lakh in 49 schools in Saturia, TK25.15 lakh in 15 schools of Harirampur, Tk15 lakh in 30 schools of Shibaloy, Tk64 lakh in 34 schools in Daulatpur upazila, and Tk9 lakh in three schools as those were completely damaged in river erosion.

Rafiq Al Kabir, an assistant teacher at Charkatari Sikdarpara Government Primary School No 55 in Daulatpur Upazila of the district, said that there was five feet of water in his school compound during the floods. 

"The windows and grills of the classrooms fall out. The wall plaster also comes off while furniture gets damaged," he said.

He demanded immediate repair of the classrooms to make them suitable for teaching.

Karim Mollah, an assistant teacher at Government Primary School No 89, said his school building may collapse because of the two phases of floods. 

"Initially, some steps were taken during the floods with the help of local people. And the initiatives have helped the school building from falling apart," he said.  

Moazzem Hossain, Daulatpur upazila education officer of Manikganj, said Bachamara Government Primary School, Charkatari Government Primary School and Subuddhipachuria Government Primary School were washed away by the Jamuna River.

"A few more school buildings in the same upazila are under risk of collapse. If the right decision is not taken on time, the local students will lag in primary education," he said.

Manikganj District Primary Education Officer Tapash Kumar said government primary schools have been closed for several months to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

"Meanwhile, 306 government primary schools in the district have been affected by the floods. A letter has been sent to the concerned department to repair the damaged schools so that teaching can start immediately once the instruction to reopen schools is received," he said.