More than 200 primary schools are running their academic activities in shabby and old buildings in nine upazilas of Khulna district, putting lives of young learners at risk.
Teachers and guardians said accident like the Barguna one may take place any time if the authorities concerned don't take any initiative to repair those immediately.
District Education office sources said they have identified 20 buildings as risky among 127 primary schools in the city.
Considering their hazardous condition, classes of several schools are being held in some other school buildings keeping the risky ones closed, reports UNB.
Besides, District Education office identified 37 risky school buildings in Koyra upazila, 14 in Dumuria, 30 in Terokhada, 19 in Dacop, 12 in Dighlia, 25 in Paikgachha, six in Fultola, 40 in Batiaghata and six in Rupsha upazila.
On April 6, Mansura, a third-grader of PK Government Primary School and daughter of Najib Hossain Talukdar of Gendamara village in Taltoli upazila of Barguna district, was killed and three others were injured as a portion of the ceiling of the school collapsed.
Following the accident, the government on April 7 asked the district primary education officers to identify very risky buildings of govt primary schools across the country and inform it within 15 workdays.
The Primary and Mass Education Ministry issued an office order in this regard.
It said assistance of upazila engineers, local government division, can be sought to identify the risky buildings if necessary.
ASM Sirajuddoha, district primary education officer, said upazila education officers were instructed to make a list of risky buildings in their upazilas visiting the primary schools. Most risky buildings have already been declared abandoned.
Besides, academic activities of some schools are being conducted from other schools to avoid risks.
