The students and teachers of 100-year old Parapur Government Primary School under Haziganj upazila of the district have been attending classes under the open sky for the last one year as the school building is too risky for use.
School sources said the school founded in 1914 has become vulnerable over the years in absence of any repair work. Cracks developed in its roof, beams, walls and floors and rain water enters the classrooms through these cracks.
In 1994 the authority repaired the school building but recently a big portion of plaster has fallen from the roof.
In the last monsoon, there was a frequent rain in the area that compelled students to take shelter in the nearby houses.
“We are very afraid to attend classes in the rooms,” said Samia,Nasrin Khatun, Jannatul Nayma Akhi, Snigdha, Rabbi Hossain, Mohana Khatun, Laboni Khatun, Ahad Mahumud, Sharmin Nahar, some students of the school.
The president of school committee Mizanur Rahman said one year ago, the building was declared abandoned.
“We stopped taking classes in the rooms,” he also added.
“Earlier, we urged the authorities concerned to construct a new building but they turned a blind eye to the matter,” he further said.
Md Motaleb Hossain, headmaster of the school said: “Education of 271 students is seriously hampered as we have to teach them outside the school.”
“We are yet to receive any government allocation till now. I urge the authorities to take measures to rehabilitate the school soon,” he said.
The upazila primary education officer Abdul Awal said they would send a letter to the higher authorities to construct a new school building.
UNO Sheikh Mursidul Islam said that a tin shed building would be build up soon.