Classes held in mosque corridor due to lack of classrooms

Abdul Khaleque Maksuda High School in Mymensingh's Ishwarganj upazila has been facing an acute classroom shortage for years. Established in 1999, the school has around 700 students, including 400 female students, but only five classrooms.

There is no other high school within three kilometres of the school, so the number of students, especially girl students, from adjacent villages is increasing every year, school sources said.

Due to the shortage of classrooms and benches, classes have been held on the floor of an adjacent mosque since 2013, sources said.

After getting Tk 2 lakh from the government in 2011, the school authorities started construction of a semi-pucca building, housing three classrooms. But the work is yet to be completed due to a shortage of funds, school sources said.

Construction of a four-storeyed academic building by the Education Engineering Department started in 2012, but the work was suspended after completion of the ground floor in 2013, sources said. Besides, there is no water supply or sanitation.

The school has no science laboratory, and although a computer teacher was appointed there is no computer facility.

Tahura Khatun, headmistress of the school, said authorities need to address the prevailing problems immediately to facilitate a better academic atmosphere.

Khadija Akhtar, a Class IX student, said the school has a reputation in the area for its good results, but its infrastructure development is being neglected.

Iva Akhtar, a Class X student, said the prevailing problems must be solved as early as possible to promote education of the area's youth.

None of the local political leaders or government officials have tried to address the school's problems.

Md Safiullah Sarker, upazila higher secondary education officer, said they requested the local lawmaker and upazila parishad chairman to continue construction of the four-storeyed building to alleviate the  students' suffering.

Rajib Kumar Sarker, Ishwarganj upazila nirbahi officer (UNO), said necessary measures would be taken soon to address the prevailing problems of the school.