Schools in Aila-Hit Koira
Most yet to be repaired, many still submerged
Like many other institutions in the area, Angtihara Government Primary School at Dakkhin Bedkashi union in Koira upazila of Khulna district has remained flooded since cyclone Aila ravaged the area on May 25 in 2009, much to the hindrance to local children's schooling.Photo: STAR
Most of the educational institutions damaged by Aila in worst-hit Koira upazila of Khulna district are yet to be renovated or reconstructed. Many schools are still under water since the cyclone accompanied by tidal surges ravaged the area on May 25 in 2009 while poverty pressed a large number of students to engage in various income generating activities. All these factors have resulted in hindrance to schooling of children in the area, said teachers, students and guardians. Teachers of some damaged schools often take classes under the open sky. "According to official records, cyclone Aila damaged 156 educational institutions in six unions under Koira upazila. Fourteen high schools and madrasas in the upazila were raged to the ground while three primary schools went into the riverbed due to the storm," said Koira Upazila Nirbahi Officer Abul Bashar. "Students of damaged schools have engaged in catching fish fry, working as domestic help, selling vegetables and driving van to help their poor parents," upazila parishad Chairman GM Mohsin Reza said. Fisherman Abdul Aziz of Angtihara village, who has been staying in a sub-human condition in a makeshift camp erected on an embankment, said that students of his area stopped education as their schools still bear testimony to the devastation caused by Aila. Humayun Kabir, headmaster of Barhobari High School at Uttar Bedkashi union, regretted that despite frequent reminders the authorities concerned are yet to take any move to reconstruct the damaged educational institutions. Asked about the matter, Koira Upazila Education Officer Md Akram Hossain said, "I sent a list of educational institutions damaged by Aila and sought allocation of necessary fund for their renovation and reconstruction but the education department is yet to make any response in this regard." Jessore education board has not refunded the money taken as SSC examination fees from Aila affected candidates although the board authorities earlier announced exempting candidates of the Aila-affected upazila from payment of SSC examination fees, he said. Meanwhile, Koira Police station officer in charge Humayun Kabir told this correspondent that many school students, driven by poverty and hunger, have got involved in various cognizable and non-cognizable offences like pilferage, theft and drug selling.
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