Students along with their parents and teachers in Tangail are worried as 463 schools and colleges have been flooded ahead of the reopening of educational institutions from September 12.
The District Education Office (DEO) is, however, taking preparations to open all educational institutions from the very first day to cover the loss caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
On the other hand, the authorities of schools and colleges in the dry areas have already started cleaning up the institutions for in-person academic activities.
Talking to Dhaka Tribune, teachers said that they would ensure that the health guidelines were strictly followed.
There are 1,624 government primary schools in the district with 505,698 students. Floodwaters have affected at least 366 schools.
Moreover, at least 97 colleges -- out of 1,181 in the district -- have been submerged by the recent floods.
In July, three educational institutions sank into the river.
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Firoz Mahmud, a lecturer of mathematics at Jobeda Rubaya Women’s College, said that he was unsure whether the college would be able to resume academic activities from September 12.
Abdul Jalil, an assistant teacher at Mujib-Habib Islamia Dakhil Madrasah, expressed the same concern.
Shahnaz Parveen, the headmaster of Hatia Government Primary School in Kalihati upazila, said: “Even though we are planning to open the school on time, we believe that students who live across the river will face much trouble attending classes.”
Mohammad Ali Ahsan, assistant primary officer of the District Primary Education Office, said that alternative measures would be taken if floodwaters did not recede from the educational institutions.
“We are trying to conduct classes properly on the first day in compliance with health guidelines,” he added.
District Education Officer Laila Khanam hoped that the floodwaters would recede soon. "We are working to make sure that lessons can be imparted in every school on the first day.”
