Will the only govt-run secondary school for special-needs children vanish?

"We don't want our school to close. We want to keep coming here," whispered 16-year-old Oishi, her eyes fixed on her parents after class ended.

Oishi is one of 44 students at the National Academy for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (NAAND) in Segun Bagicha, Dhaka—the country's only government-run secondary school for children with autism and neurodevelopmental disabilities. For her and others like Isfat Sadik and Anila, the school is more than an institution, it is a lifeline.

Here, students are taught not only reading and writing but also how to live with dignity—threading garlands, making bangles, block printing, using computers, maintaining hygiene, and even learning the difference between good and bad touch. Music, painting, dance, and sports bring joy, while therapy, counselling, and teacher-parent training offer much-needed support.

The small school runs with just three teachers, six government psychologists, two support staff and a handful of volunteers from Dhaka University Eden College, Dhaka College, and other institutions. Despite its modest size, its impact is enormous.

But now, its very existence is at risk.

A lifeline at risk

The government has decided to end the NAAND project early, citing slow progress. In 11 years, only 13% of planned work was completed, and the rented building where classes are held will be handed to a developer on 30 November. The temporary campus will close—and with it, the hopes of dozens of families.

For parents, the thought is unbearable.

"My son has an intellectual disability. Here, he learned handicrafts, joined competitions, and found purpose. If this school shuts, he'll just sit at home, eating and sleeping," said Nasrin Akter, mother of student Isfat Sadik. "Even if it's in a small room, please let this school continue. Private schools are far too expensive. For middle-class families like us, this is our only chance."

Another mother, Sonia Akter, shared her fears, "My daughter loves coming here. In regular schools, children like her are neglected. If this school closes, our expenses will rise sharply, and my child will lose her progress."

Some families travel from as far as Bashundhara just to attend. The school charges only Tk1,000 for three months—an amount no private institute can match.

Children's voices

Students, too, are aware of what is at stake.

Alina, 20, proudly said, "I've learned computer skills. I can type, use Excel, and next, I'll learn PowerPoint. I don't want this school to close. I pray every day that it stays open."

One worried parent added, "From now on, we will take our child only one day instead of two. If the school shuts suddenly, we won't know how to manage at home."

Their words echo the same plea, don't close the only safe space they have.

So far, forty parents have written to the education ministry urging that the school remain open.

Project delays and budget woes

The Planning Commission reported that the project's main activity—constructing the academic complex—has not begun even after 11 years. At the 16th Project Steering Committee meeting on 29 September 2024, it was proposed to close the project in June 2025 after spending Tk94.98 crore, leaving it incomplete. The proposal was sent to the chief adviser for approval.

Managed by the Secondary and Higher Education Division and the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education, the project's original cost of Tk74.11 crore was revised three times to Tk730.60 crore. Despite spending Tk94.44 crore, only 13% of the work was completed.

The project aimed to help children with autism spectrum disorders and neurodevelopmental disabilities join mainstream education, provide residential and ICT facilities, offer vocational training, create opportunities for sports, music, and arts, and set up a teacher-parent training institute.

Plans included a 15-story academic building, auditorium, gymnasium, hostel, staff quarters, internal roads, and drainage. Revisions reduced the plan to a five-building integrated complex, complicating implementation via a single tender.

Monira Haque, deputy secretary (development) of the Secondary and Higher Education Division, said, "The project has been closed, and the academy might also be closed, but this is not yet confirmed."