Chronic flooding in Southwestern Bangladesh has forced school closures, creating regular gaps in students’ education. The late October flooding has forced educators to find creative ways to continue teaching students, sometimes conducting lessons outside or organizing classes in homes or shelters.
According to UNICEF Bangladesh, almost a quarter of schools in the sub-areas of the Satkhira District have been submerged by water this year, affecting approximately 21,000 families. The unstable school year has contributed to “increasing dropout rates and decreasing chances of children completing the full primary school cycle.” According to Bangladeshi education experts, the serious interruptions have “serious” implications on the students’ studies and additional efforts are needed to repair damaged school buildings in order to keep schools functioning.
Secondary school teacher reportedly held classes “on the roof of the building,” until the water level became too high and classes were then held in locations accessible by boat or bridges. 17 year old Elias Hassan explains “we organize tutors to come and hold classes [in our homes or shelters], and the teachers do some too,” and “this continues every year now – we don’t have a permanent solution so we are still using small activities to make up for school not being open for the full year.”
Primary school principal, Chamal Nundi, reports a 50% decrease in student attendance during flooding times; at least half the year during the last decade. “Parents are afraid to let their children come to school because of the water, they want to watch them all the time.” Nundi also pointed out the school’s long term hazards, saying “over the years and years of water-logging, the school building structure is getting damaged. This is not a safe place for children even when the school is dry. Fewer and fewer children come back every year after the water-logging ends because of buildings visibly crumbling.”
Plan International in Bangladesh is currently working to mitigate the long term damaging effects of disasters on education by improving building infrastructure and incorporating disaster risk reduction into the school curriculum.
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Written by Rachel Pozivenec