MANY educational institutions still not being able to resume academic activities especially in Feni, Cumilla and Noakhali that went under water in the recent flooding of Bangladesh鈥檚 east, north-east and south-east warrants an early attention of a few public agencies as the academic year is drawing near. The flooding that had affected about six million people and forced more than half a million to take refuge in shelters in 11 districts has improved after a fortnight. Yet, many areas are still submerged and many people are still living in flood shelters, many of which are educational institutions. In such a situation, education authorities could not resume academic activities in some areas where people are still in educational institutions used as flood shelters, in some other areas which are still under water, in some other areas where buildings of educational institutions and furniture, doors, windows, floors and books were either destroyed or damaged and, yet, in some other areas where connection roads and playgrounds were either damaged or destroyed, making it difficult for both students and teachers to reach the institutions. The institutions that have resumed work have so done with great difficulty.
The district primary education officer of Feni says that about 80 per cent of the 559 government primary schools in the district reopened. The schools that are in remote areas were yet to resume academic activities as cleaning activities are going on. The district education officer says that about 25 per cent of the 351 secondary and higher secondary educational institutions could resume classes, noting that some schools are still used as flood shelters. The district primary education officer in Cumilla says that 70 per cent of the 2,017 primary schools could be reopened but many institutions in Laksam, Brahmanpara, Burichang, Chauddagram and Nangolkot are not in a position to resume classes. The district education officer says that 328 out of the 1,137 secondary and higher secondary institutions are still used as flood shelters. In Noakhali, as the primary education officer says, 800 out of the 1,235 primary schools could resume academic activities, noting that other schools are yet to resume classes as they are still under water. In the case of secondary and higher secondary institutions, as the district education officer says, 95 per cent have resumed classes. Students in many areas have already struggled with natural calamities which disrupted their academic life. The student protests and consequent changes on the political landscape have also added to such a situation.
Education officials of the district say that the situation would improve in a week. What education managers should ensure that it so does. Public agencies responsible for flood mitigation are reported to have done much. But now, with the flooding having been almost over, some other public agencies responsible for the maintenance of buildings of educational institutions and for repairs of damaged roads along with education authorities, responsible for holding academic activities, must mind post-flood issues to resume classes at the earliest in not only the three districts but also nine other districts that faced flooding.
