SM Sahidul Islam, Satkhira

At a time when the government is working to ensure quality primary education, academic activities are being conducted in severely hazardous conditions across 250 out of 1,095 primary schools in Satkhira.

The lives of nearly 1,500 teachers and staff, along with 36,000 young students in these institutions, hang in the balance every single day. Students are forced to continue their studies amidst the extreme risks of rusted corrugated iron sheets, decaying walls, and plaster falling off the ceilings in these aged structures. Fearing potential loss of life, student enrollment in these schools is steadily declining.

However, the District Primary Education Officer stated that a list of these 250 vulnerable educational institutions has been forwarded to the ministry, and construction of new buildings is expected to begin shortly.

Humayun Kabir, Headmaster of Kultia Government Primary School in Satkhira Sadar, stated that the school, established in 1962, had its current building constructed in 2003. Over the past 23 years, the condition of the structure has severely deteriorated. Plaster from the ceilings and walls has peeled away, exposing the brickwork beneath.

Meanwhile, the situation at Dakshin Ghoshpara Government Primary School in Satkhira town is much the same. Owing to the extreme structural danger, the school is somehow managing to function after minor repairs carried out using funds received during the previous elections. Teachers and students of this school have also raised a strong demand for a new building.

Shahajan Ali, Headmaster of Kulpota Government Primary School located west of the Sadar upazila, mentioned that despite being a very old school nationalized in 2013, it has yet to see any infrastructure development.

A spot visit to Kultia School revealed that academic activities are being carried out under severe security risks, leaving teachers, students, and parents in constant anxiety during school hours. Suffering from heat and rain remains a daily ordeal. Highlighting the lack of proper buildings and access roads, the young pupils of Kulpota School expressed various concerns for their safety. In the case of Ghoshpara Primary School in the town, observers note that attendance is dropping due to fears of falling ceiling plasters or ceiling fans.

Unless new buildings are constructed immediately for these 250 dilapidated and hazardous primary schools in Satkhira, a major fatal accident could occur at any moment. Therefore, parents and conscious citizens expect the government to act swiftly in constructing new facilities to safeguard the lives of these children—the nation's future—and relieve families of their constant anxiety.

Addressing these issues, Satkhira District Primary Education Officer (DPEO) Ruhul Amin said, "We have sent a list of the 250 hazardous schools out of 1,095 primary schools in Satkhira to the ministry. Around 1,500 teachers and 36,000 students in these schools are facing daily risks."

He expressed hope that new buildings for these institutions would be constructed within the next two to three years, adding that the most critical structures are currently being temporarily patched up using limited emergency funds from the government, though they remain far from safe.