PABNA, Dec 09: Due to shortage of adequate class rooms, the students of Shalikha Government Primary School under Chatmohar Upazila in Pabna district are attending their classes under the open sky.
According to a school source, the school was established in 1929 at the initiative of local people to educate their children. In the beginning, two tin-shed rooms were built with the assistance of the managing committee to impart lessons to the students.
Later, a two-room building was constructed with the financial help of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) in 2001.
In the second phase, another building of three rooms was constructed in 2009 and the tin-shed was abandoned to avoid accident. The classes are being taken in the four rooms of the concrete buildings and one room is being used as office room.
At present, some 450 students are taking lessons from their teachers from pre-primary to fifth grade in the school. But, they are to endure untold woes due to class room shortage and classes are taken under the open sky.
During rainy season and summer, students suffer much.
Since establishment of the school in 1929, the number of students continues to rise but the class rooms could not be raised to cope with the situation.
Moreover, in absence of bench and tools, students have to sit on mattresses on the floor to continue their studies.
Teachers and students said classes are held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The pre-primary, elementary classes are held till 12 noon.
Due to shortage of class rooms everyday the teachers have to impart lessons to students of two sections under the open sky ignoring scorching sun and rain.
A fourth-grade student, Tania Akhter, said they have become accustomed to taking classes in the field
Headmaster of the school, Anwara Khatun, said that class room crises make her worried in the rainy season as they are to manage some classes under the open sky.
Meanwhile, the matter was brought to the notice of the authorities concerned, but no action has been taken yet, she said.
Assistant Upazila Education Officer Md Fariduzzaman said after visiting the school, a demand letter was given for the construction of a new building. Considering the problem, new buildings will be constructed soon, he added.
