MANY primary schools in old Dhaka are in deplorable conditions risking accidents and fatalities and yet they are failing to get attention of the authorities concerned to repair them or build new buildings at their place. Moreover land grabbers have targeted some schools property making the functioning of the schools difficult at their existing location.
The New Nation reported on Tuesday that at least 12 such schools in old city are standing in dismal conditions. One such school is Islamia UP Government Primary School in Sutrapur having only four usable classrooms in the first floor for 51 students while the remaining classrooms are unusable. The story said during the monsoon, it appears quite difficult for children to stay inside classrooms as rainwater drips from the ceiling. Plasters often fall on the floor causing panic among children.
The poor state of the school came to the notice of Primary and Mass Education Minister recently when he paid a visit at the area. The three-storied school building has 17 rooms and all of them are in worn out condition while students can use only five. Many guardians have already taken away their kids to other schools. There were 600 students at the school in 1990 but it is on the verge of closure at the moment.
Teachers and members of the school managing committee (SMC) have been quoted in the report as alleging that local influential people have long occupied half of the school ground making its renovation difficult. They were making the situation difficult to force the management to shut down the school. This school is among the 12 in the old city recently identified in dilapidated condition but their renovation and repairs are not yet in sight.
It is heartening to note that the concerned minister has already visited the Islamia UP Government Primary School and people hope that corrective measures would follow now to repair all such schools. The deplorable condition of the government schools in the heart of the city speaks volumes about the indifference of the relevant government departments towards students of poorer communities in the old crowded city. Many say ‘it is just 12 schools’ but we believe it is still 12 schools; which are too many for people in the city.
It is suggested that the government would take immediate steps to construct new buildings in place of the dilapidated ones or start quick renovation of them to make these buildings usable. There can’t be any neglect and delay, the schools must be properly built to give the impression to students that their presence to schools matters the most. Meanwhile steps also must be taken to evict the land grabbers from some schools ground and protection walls must be raised there to stop such attempts again.
