School that halts classes in monsoon

Classes of 12 No Modon Gouri Government Primary School in Kulaura upazila under the district remain suspended for a few months every year as the school situated in Hakaluki Haor area faces long floods.

The situation has continued for the last 23 years.

“The floor of this school is five metres below the level of the roads and so, it remains flooded most of the time, and we have keep the classes suspended, especially in the rainy season,” said Abdul Kadir, president of the school managing committee (SMC). 

The school was established at Dighirpar of Bhuksimul union under Kulaura upazila in 1882 and it was transferred to its own land at Modongouri in the same union in 1994. Since then the school has continued facing floods and consequent closure of classes for months every year.

Now 180 students read in the school. 

Saif Uddin, who passed Class V from the school in 2000, said, “I saw from my childhood that classes in this school remained suspended at least four months every year as flash floods triggered by heavy rain and onrush of water from the hills affect the area.”

Most of the students can't achieve good results due to the situation, said Saif Uddin, also owner of a shop near the school.

Farhana Sultana, headmaster (acting) of the school, said special classes have been arranged at her house to prepare the Class V students for the PSC examinations.

“We are attending special classes for PSC exams in teachers' houses or sometimes under the open sky as the school is flooded,” said Tahmina Akhter, a student of Class V.

“The authorities concerned have not taken any steps although we sent letters, demanding steps for building a new schoolhouse including a flood shelter centre,” SMC President Abdul Kadir said.

Masudur Rahman, acting education officer of Kulaura upazila, said they have sent a list of the affected educational institutions to the higher authorities, but to no response yet.