S.A Shofiee, Sylhet :
Uncertainty looms over continuing operation of fifteen primary schools meant for the children of extreme poverty-struck families in Sylhet sadar upazila as their lone financer, a non-government organisation, has stopped releasing fund.
The institutions established in Khadimnagar union of the upazila by the same organisation, Friends In Village Development Bangla-desh (FIVDB), are now barely in a position to continue academic activities for unavailability of financial assistance from any quarter either.
Against the backdrop, on February 5, the managing body of the school, named ‘FIVDB Bidyalay Sangrakkan Parishad, placed a memorandum to the local administration, including the deputy commissioner.
In the memorandum, it was stated that there were not sufficient primary schools for the children of the poor families of the union.
So that this under-privileged section did not get deprived of the light of education, FIVDB temporarily established the primary schools since 1990.
Meanwhile, the FIVDB authorities inked an agreement with the Parishad promising to make the schools permanent upon availability of land for those from any quarter and accordingly, the impoverished locals donated the same considering welfare of the academic life of the ultra poor children.
The accord also included a condition, according to which, the FIVDB would pay salary of the teachers of the schools and supply all educational materials to the students for free.
On the other hand, the Parishad would only supervise the activities of the schools.
There was another important condition that the FIVDB would hand over the management of the schools to the government or any other non-government organisation if it is abolished and wind up its activities from the area.
