200 Bagerhat primary schools hold classes in makeshift sheds, abandoned buildings

Nearly 200 government primary schools across Bagerhat are operating without permanent buildings or from dilapidated structures, leaving thousands of children at the mercy of crumbling ceilings and an uncertain tomorrow.

While some schools have no buildings at all, others continue holding classes in abandoned structures with cracked pillars and falling plaster, where even a brief spell of rain is enough to bring lessons to a halt. Education officials say a list of the hazardous schools has already been sent to the Directorate of Primary Education.

The crisis is on full display at 190 West Teligati Government Primary School in Morelganj, where nearly 100 students have spent the past three years studying in a temporary shelter made of golpata leaves and polythene after the school's only concrete building was auctioned off and demolished in 2022.

Built with money pooled by teachers, the makeshift classroom leaks whenever it rains, turns stifling in summer and squeezes three grades into a single room.

"Whenever it rains, our books get wet, and we have to run towards the library," said third-grader Maria Akter. "During summer, it's too hot to study. We see other schools with proper buildings and wish ours were like that."

Another student, Jewel, said children are still waiting for the school building they were promised while continuing to study without electricity, fans or enough teachers.

The school is also grappling with a severe teacher shortage. Acting Head Teacher Rozina Akter said only three teachers are serving against six sanctioned posts for 97 students, making it difficult to ensure quality education.

"We built the temporary classroom ourselves, but it cannot replace a permanent building. Whenever it rains, classes come to a standstill," she said, urging authorities to construct a new building and provide interim repair funds.

The problem extends well beyond West Teligati. At 246 West Dhuligati Government Primary School in the same union, students continue attending classes in a building riddled with structural cracks, peeling plaster and a leaking roof.

Head Teacher Tohifur Rahman said the deteriorating infrastructure has taken a toll on enrolment. "This school once topped the union in scholarship results. Now parents are reluctant to send their children because there is no proper building," he said.

A district-wide infrastructure crisis

According to the District Primary Education Office, 50 schools in Bagerhat Sadar have no safe or permanent buildings, followed by 37 in Chitalmari, 34 in Morelganj, 30 in Fakirhat, 13 in Rampal, 12 in Kachua, 11 each in Mollahat and Sharankhola, and two in Mongla.

Assistant District Primary Education Officer Sikdar Atikur Rahman Jewel said 200 of the district's 1,162 government primary schools have dilapidated or hazardous buildings, and the list has already been forwarded to the Directorate of Primary Education.

Morelganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mir Habibullah said resolutions seeking urgent repairs and new school buildings have been sent to the relevant authorities. "The infrastructure shortage is disrupting education. The situation will improve once new buildings are constructed," he said.