Flood forces children to stay home despite reopening of schools in Rajbari

Thousands of children have been forced out of school after heavy floods inundated at least 24 primary schools in the low-lying areas of Rajbari.

Around 5,000 students could not resume classes on Sunday though schools and colleges across the country opened after 18 long months of Covid-19 closure.

While talking to Dhaka Tribune, Hosne Yasmin Karimi, district primary education officer, said: "We could not restart academic activities in 24 primary schools located in five upazilas of the district due to the flood. Classes in these institutions will remain suspended until the floodwater recedes.

"Hopefully, the flood-water will go down in a day or two," she added.

The district primary education officer said the teachers have been instructed to attend their duties regularly so that, when classes resume, they can make up for the lost time.

A  total of 168,497 students are pursuing studies in  677 educational institutions in the district, including both government and private

Contacted, Habibur Rahman, district education officer, said: “No secondary institutions or madrasas were hit by the flood in Rajbari.

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“Only three schools were inundated. But floodwaters have already receded. Thus, there should be no problem in conducting classes.”

All educational institutions except universities across Bangladesh reopened in phases from Sunday.

After the reopening, the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSC) examinees of 2020-2021, and the Primary Education Completion (PEC) examinees have been instructed to attend classes regularly while the students of grades 1-4 and 6-9 are to attend classes once a week initially.

The government shut educational institutions across the country back in mid-March last year after health authorities detected the first Covid-19 case. Later, the closure was extended several times.

With the authorities recording a drop in Covid-19 cases and deaths in recent weeks, Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni announced that schools, colleges, and madrasas will reopen on Sunday.

With the authorities recording a drop in Covid-19 cases and deaths in recent weeks, Education Minister Dipu Moni announced that schools, colleges, and madrasas will reopen on Sunday.