Children of ethnic group deprived of education in Ishwardi

Ishwardi (Pabna) Correspondent :
The light of education has not yet reached the homes of small ethnic groups in tribal villages in Ishwardi . Minority children are deprived of educational facilities due to poverty, social discrimination, ignorance and prejudice. The village’s only children’s educational institution is also closed. There is no initiative to reopen the institution.
About five thousand people of 7 small ethnic groups live in different villages of Ishwardi. Among them, Bagdi community resides in Mal Paharia in Marmi village of Dashuria union and Patirajpur village of Muladuli. These two tribal villages do not have their own educational institutions for children. Children have to walk about to one and a half kilometers to go to the nearby village school. Many people do not want to go to school after traveling a long way. As a result, children are getting distracted from education.
St. Philip’s Shishu Shiakendra, the only child education institution run by the Christian Mission in Marmi, the largest tribal village, closed down in 2018. Established in 1932, St. Philip’s Children’s Education Center still has its infrastructure. But there is no vitality of children. Residents of the village said that the school had more than 50 students. Initially, the Christian Mission managed it, but later a non-governmental development organization called Caritas took over. But they also stopped the education programme in 2018. Because of this, many of the village children do not go to school anymore. Works in fields with parents. There is no end to the hardship even if you go to school one-and-a-half kilometers away on foot.
Sijuti Biswas, a tribal student from Marmi, said that he was studying in the infant class at St. Philip’s Shishu Shiakendra. The school was closed at that time His younger brothers and sisters are studying in primary schools in distant villages. Many children do not want to go to distant schools. Many people leave their studies and go to work in agriculture with their parents.
Agnesh Madhavi Biswas, a teacher at the closed St. Philip’s Children’s Education Center in Marmi, said that their only children’s education institution has closed due to lack of funds.” No public or private institution or organization has come forward to start this institution. Children here have to walk one and a half kilometers to go to school. Many children are getting distracted from education.
Barnat Biswas, head of Marmi tribal village, said that due to the closure of the school, our children’s education in their own language has stopped. Children go to school in neighboring villages, where there is no opportunity to learn about our religion and language. This school needs to be reopened to retain their language, culture and traditions.
Rafiqul Islam Majhi, a member of Dashuria UP, said that after the closure of the educational institution, no assurance was received regarding the opening of the school even after protesting several times to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer and the Education Officer.
Upazila Primary Education Officer Asaduzzaman said that after he has joined, no one has informed him about the children’s educational institution of the tribal village till now. He will try to solve the problem..