Dilapidated school building puts Dasar students at risk

Classes are being held in a dilapidated building at West Shashikar Wapdarpar Government Primary School in Nabgram Union of Dasar Upazila, Madaripur, putting students at risk and causing concern among teachers and guardians.

Due to a shortage of classrooms and the absence of an alternative building, young students have been attending classes in the unsafe structure for several years. Cracks in the walls and pillars, crumbling plaster and deteriorating concrete have raised fears of a possible accident.

A visit to the school revealed that the building was reconstructed in 2001 beside a flowing WAPDA canal in the West Shashikar area of the upazila. The strong current in the adjacent canal and the deteriorating condition of the building have heightened concerns about its safety.

Cracks and signs of crumbling plaster are visible on around 36 pillars of the building. Concrete in the beams has also deteriorated, further weakening the structure. During rainfall, water seeps through the roof and walls, leaving classroom floors damp and disrupting normal teaching activities.

Dasar Upazila Engineer Md Rezaul Karim said the upazila primary education officer had sent him a letter regarding the condition of Wapdarpar Government Primary School.

“I have already been informed about the matter. We inspected the situation and found that the concrete in the building’s beams had crumbled. The school building is hazardous for students. We have submitted a proposal for the reconstruction of the school,” he said.

Dasar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Tanzil Parvez said he had learned that Wapdarpar Government Primary School was in a hazardous condition and that students were continuing to attend classes in the unsafe building.

“I have learned that the school building is in a risky condition and students are attending classes there. We have a committee to look into the matter. The committee will inspect and assess the building to determine whether it is fit for use.

“The upazila engineer has already inspected the site, and the upazila primary education officer is also aware of the situation. A decision on the next course of action will be made soon,” he said.

Cracks began appearing in different parts of the building a few years after its reconstruction. Although the damage has increased over time, classes have continued there because of the shortage of classrooms and the lack of an alternative facility.

Teachers and students become even more anxious about the building’s safety during storms and heavy rain. Concerned people said that the falling plaster, cracked walls and deteriorating structure could cause a serious accident at any time.

Several students said they felt frightened when they saw cracks in the walls and pillars while attending classes. They also said rainwater dripping through the roof and walls often soaked their books and notebooks.

“We feel afraid when we see the cracks in the walls and pillars while attending classes. When it rains, water drips through the roof and walls, soaking our books and notebooks. We are always worried that parts of the building might collapse because of the cracks, and we feel scared to come to school.

“We want to attend school regularly and continue our studies, but the condition of the building often frightens us. It would be better for us if the building were repaired or a new one constructed as soon as possible,” the students said.

Teachers said they were concerned about the safety of their students but had no immediate alternative to using the building because of the classroom shortage. Rainwater entering the classrooms also makes teaching difficult, they added.

Guardians and local residents have urged the authorities to inspect the building and take immediate measures to prevent any accident. They demanded that the unsafe structure be declared abandoned and that a new school building be constructed to ensure a safe learning environment.