Benches have been arranged in the trees of the school premises. Class III students are taking classes there. They are not paying attention as the class is in the open. Students are looking around. Some are fanning themselves with paper.

This picture is of Baikarjhuti Government Primary School number 10 of Satkhira Asashuni upazila. The tin canopy of the school’s half-baked building was destroyed by Cyclone Rimal. The authorities are in a dilemma. It is reported that classes have to be held in the trees of the school grounds to keep the classes going.

Baikarjhuti Government Primary School is located in Baikarjhuti village in Shobnali Union. There are 311 students in this school from pre-primary to fifth grade. There is a shortage of classrooms in this school for a long time.

Sakila Khanam, head teacher of the school, said that the school has two one-story buildings and a half-paved tin-roofed room. The single storey building has become unusable long ago. A room in that building is used as an office. The other room is not used. Students were taking classes in three rooms including a tin canopied room. But on May 26, the tin canopies were destroyed by Cyclone Rimal. Since then 61 third class students are taking classes in Gachtala. However, if the number of students is less, the class is held in the balcony.

Last Thursday around one o’clock, it was seen that third grade students were having a class in the tree of the school premises. They were taught by assistant teacher Taslima Khatun. He said that the building is currently in danger due to the electricity cable passing over the canopy of the damaged house. Again the sun falls directly into the classroom. Then the room gets very hot. So forced to take classes in the trees of the school ground. It’s hot here too, but one less.

Principal Sakila Anam said the soil test was done in 2020 after the old school building was auctioned. A new building was then approved. But he does not know why the new building was not built later. In this situation, it will be difficult to hold classes during the monsoon season. A letter has been sent to the upazila education office with detailed details of the damage.

Upazila Education Officer Swapan Varam said that a letter has been sent to the higher authorities giving details for quick renovation of the damaged building of the school.

District Primary Education Officer Hashemi Yasmin Karemi said that one primary education office and 67 schools were more or less damaged in Cyclone Rimal. About 87 lakh rupees has been damaged. Initiatives are being taken to quickly reform these schools.

And regarding the construction of the new building, Asashuni Upazila Engineer Nazmul Haque said that he does not know anything about the construction of the building of Baikarjhuti Government Primary School.