Children out of school as erosion fury rages on in Gaibandha

Locals of Chargram Jiadanga village in Gaibandha demanded immediate steps to re-establish a primary school as hundreds of children are unable to receive basic education after Brahmaputra River erosion claimed a neighbouring village last month and along with it, its sole primary school.

River erosion took the entire Char Katakgachha village into the riverbed in the past month, in which the Angaridaha Government Primary School was situated. Some children of Chargram Jiadanga went to the school in the neighbouring village as there was no alternative, but now all of them have been remaining deprived of institutional education.

Locals said that new building for the primary school should be built at the Chargram Jiadanga village, since the village has no school for 12 years. The sole primary school of the village was claimed by river erosion in 2013 and locals said that since then many children of the village had not been into any school at all.

However, the residents believe that the village is a relatively safe place now and there is also a suitable place to establish a school.

Parents at the village said their children have been staying at home due to a lack of a school and many are starting to look for work at a young age as a result. They also said child marriage has risen due to a lack of educational institution in Chargram Jiadanga village and many teenagers are getting involved in various anti-social activities.

Locals said the future generation will be completely left out of education due to the absence of a school.

Local UP member Belal Hossain told the FE that the school in this Jiadanga village was submerged in the river 12 years ago. Since then, no educational institution has been established in this village. Therefore, if the Angaridah Government Primary School of the lost village is re-established in this village, the boys and girls of seven to eight hundred families of this village would not have to remain deprive of education.

Gaibandha District BNP General Secretary Mahmudunnabi Titul said the children are deprived of education in Chargram Jiadanga as there is no school in the village. Thus, restoring the primary school is crucial for the village.

Gaibandha District Primary Education Officer Lakhan Kumar Das said he has visited the place. The school will be shifted to wherever the upazila education committee deems appropriate.

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