Students of Sayed Gazi Government Primary School are attending classes inside a building that has leaned to one side. Three date palm tree logs are used as pillars to prevent the roof of the worn out building from caving in.
Built in the year 1970 the three-room school building is also used as shelter for the people living in 10 villages of Lalua union in Kalapara upazila of the coastal district during the time of disasters like tidal surge and cyclones.
The school has some 158 students studying from nursery level to class-V. The school building has three class rooms and one office room. Windows and doors broke down long ago. The school has now turned into a death trap for the small children, who often get hurt by falling plasters from the roof. Hasan, a class-V student of the school was injured last year when a chunk of plaster from the roof fell on his head.
Class-IV student Rony was injured after a window broke down on him. Students of the school have complained of soar eyes and breathing problem because heavy wind keeps pounding on them. Classes normally remain suspended during the time of rain. Kabir Howlader, Hamidul Islam, guardians of the school students, said they are compelled to send their kids to the risky school building due to absence of any other such institution nearby. Gazi Abdus Sobahan, assistant teacher of the primary school, said they take classes in high risk due to the dilapidated condition of the building.
Shahabuddin, head teacher and Mushfikur Rahman Manjue, president of the school managing committee, said they have made several futile attempts to draw the attention of higher authorities towards the urgent  need of a new school
building. Md. Ruhul Amin, Kalapara primary education officer, said there are 17 risky school buildings in Kalapara, but the condition of Sayed Gazi Government Primary School building is worse.