37pc govt pry schools in poor condition

About 37 per cent of government primary school buildings across the country are in a dilapidated condition due to the absence of timely maintenance and natural calamities. The whole situation is making hazardous the holding of classes, according to primary and mass education ministry sources.

A survey report of the Directorate of Primary Education has found that about 47 per cent of the permanent primary school buildings are in a good shape, while 23 per cent are in a dilapidated condition and 6 per cent are in a worse state. These schools were constructed before 2013. There are about 65,112 government primary schools across the country. The government nationalised 26,193 of them in 2013. The report says that 23 per cent of government primary schools are in a critical condition and are unfit for use. On the other hand, 53 per cent of the semi-permanent school buildings are completely unfit for carrying out academic activities, forcing the students to attend classes in makeshift structures. Among the semi-permanent school buildings, 21 per cent are in a dilapidated condition, while 18 per cent are in a state of moderate disrepair and 8 per cent are in a good condition.

Of the newly nationalised primary schools, about 30 per cent are totally unfit for holding classes. Of these schools, 32 per cent are in a good condition and 25 per cent in a moderate condition. In metropolitan Dhaka, there are 342 government primary schools. Of these, 50 per cent are in a dilapidated condition. The school authorities are conducting classes with great difficulty.

Under the circumstances, the government has taken initiatives to overhaul the school buildings as per requirement. Ministry sources say most of the government primary schools wear a dismal look. Private schools, in comparison, are in a better shape and so guardians send their wards to such well-maintained schools even if it meant paying high fees. Only lower-income people send their kids to government primary schools as they cannot bear the expenses involved in private schools.

Middle-class and upper-class parents do not like to send their children to government primary schools. The ministry says the government is aware of the matter and has taken steps to refurbish  the school buildings to create a better academic environment. The primary and mass education ministry is going to refurbish 342 dilapidated schools in the capital as a pilot project. Later, all the government primary schools in the metropolitan areas of eight divisions will be overhauled in phases. The primary and mass education ministry has taken up a Tk. 1,143 crore revamping project.

Under the project, the 342 primary schools in the capital will get the priority. The work will begin in January next year. “Our purpose is to make the primary schools conducive to academic environment so that guardians of all levels send their kids to government schools,” Gias Uddin Ahmed, additional secretary (development) of the primary and mass education ministry, told The Independent. “We want to ensure better infrastructural facilities in primary schools so that students feel the urge to come to school. All the schools across the country will gradually be reconstructed or repaired or refurbished,” he added.

37pc govt pry schools in poor condition

About 37 per cent of government primary school buildings across the country are in a dilapidated condition due to the absence of timely maintenance and natural calamities. The whole situation is making hazardous the holding of classes, according to primary and mass education ministry sources. A survey report of the Directorate of Primary Education has found that about 47 per cent of the permanent primary school buildings are in a good shape, while 23 per cent are in a dilapidated condition and 6 per cent are in a worse state. These schools were constructed before 2013. There are about 65,112 government primary schools across the country. The government nationalised 26,193 of them in 2013. The report says that 23 per cent of government primary schools are in a critical condition and are unfit for use. On the other hand, 53 per cent of the semi-permanent school buildings are completely unfit for carrying out academic activities, forcing the students to attend classes in makeshift structures. Among the semi-permanent school buildings, 21 per cent are in a dilapidated condition, while 18 per cent are in a state of moderate disrepair and 8 per cent are in a good condition. Of the newly nationalised primary schools, about 30 per cent are totally unfit for holding classes. Of these schools, 32 per cent are in a good condition and 25 per cent in a moderate condition. In metropolitan Dhaka, there are 342 government primary schools. Of these, 50 per cent are in a dilapidated condition. The school authorities are conducting classes with great difficulty. Under the circumstances, the government has taken initiatives to overhaul the school buildings as per requirement. Ministry sources say most of the government primary schools wear a dismal look. Private schools, in comparison, are in a better shape and so guardians send their wards to such well-maintained schools even if it meant paying high fees. Only lower-income people send their kids to government primary schools as they cannot bear the expenses involved in private schools. Middle-class and upper-class parents do not like to send their children to government primary schools. The ministry says the government is aware of the matter and has taken steps to refurbish the school buildings to create a better academic environment. The primary and mass education ministry is going to refurbish 342 dilapidated schools in the capital as a pilot project. Later, all the government primary schools in the metropolitan areas of eight divisions will be overhauled in phases. The primary and mass education ministry has taken up a Tk. 1,143 crore revamping project. Under the project, the 342 primary schools in the capital will get the priority. The work will begin in January next year. Our purpose is to make the primary schools conducive to academic environment so that guardians of all levels send their kids to government schools, Gias Uddin Ahmed, additional secretary (development) of the primary and mass education ministry, told The Independent. We want to ensure better infrastructural facilities in primary schools so that students feel the urge to come to school. All the schools across the country will gradually be reconstructed or repaired or refurbished, he added.