At least 17 government primary schools in Amtali upazila of Barguna are dilapidated and may collapse anytime if they are not renovated soon.
The buildings, which account for 50% of the total state-funded primary schools in the upazila, have become so dilapidated that teachers, students and guardians are in constant fear ofa tragedy.
Sources at the Upazila Primary Education Office said restrictionswereimposed on classes being held inside the buildings. For some,entryhas been proscribed.
However,they said, some school authoritiesare still running classes in the buildings as they have no alternative.
During a visit to government primary schools inHaridraBaria, Halima Khatun, Amkhola, GulishkhaliBainbunia and Purbachila, it was clear that plasteronthe walls and ceilings of most of the buildings were coming apart, and the roofs of some buildings had developed cracks.
Rainwater leakedinto the buildings through cracks during rainy season, making the walls damp.
The Upazila Primary Education Office marked the buildings as unfit for use and declared them abandoned.But there were no instruction as to where classes would be held instead, leaving teachers with no option but to defy entrance restrictions.
RashedaParvin, head teacher of Haridra Primary School, said the school building had been declared abandoned two years ago.
“An application was sent to the higher authorities to construct a new building, but to no avail,” she said.
Authorities of Amkhola, Gulishkhali and Bainbunia schools have continued to hold classes inside the buildings even after restriction was imposed.
Jesmin Akhtar, primary education officer of Amtali upazila, said: “We have visited several risky school buildings. It is not safe at all to hold classes inside them.”
A letter has been sent to the higher authorities to renovate the buildings immediately, she said, adding: “Work will start once we have the funds required for the purpose.”