SIRAJGANJ, Mar 22: At least 400 students of a char area in Sthal Union under Chawhali Upazila of the district are facing problem due to lack of a secondary school in the union.
There is only one junior secondary school at Basantapur of the union. Four hundred students receive education up to class eight at the school.
The graduates of class eight are facing woes in continuing with the higher education. They have to go to a secondary school on the other side of the river at Enayetpur to continue their studies in class nine and ten. It costs about Taka 60 to go to the school which is about 10 kilometres away.
The students, who can afford the expense, go to the school by crossing vast char and river. The students, who cannot afford the expense, have to wrap up their education till class eight.
Local people demanded for upgrading the school to secondary and higher secondary level.
Local sources said the upazila is separated by the Jamuna River. Back in 1864, under the patronage of Pakrashi Zamidars, the Pakrashi Institution was set up.
Due to river erosion 55 years back, the institution was shifted to Ruposhi area of neighbouring Shahzadpur Upazila.
In 1965, by the initiative of Abdul Kuddus and the financial support by the locals, a junior secondary school was established in Basantpur char. The school was also shifted to Chhota Chowhali area to avoid river erosion.
Students from Malipara, Naohata, Hatboyra, Nayapara, Gosaibari, Goalbari, Chaluhara and other 16 villages of Sthal Union depend on Basantpur Junior Secondary School for their education. About 200 students pass JSC exam from the school each year.
As the secondary school is 10 km away in Enayetpur, many students have to drop their education after being promoted to class nine.
The aspirant students, who continue their study, take the toll of travelling to the school regularly. Sometimes, they are late at school. Due to the regular toils, they cannot concentrate on study and do not attain good score.
Sonia Khatun, a 9th grader of Betil High School said, "I live in Hatboyra Char of the union. I have to start for the school at dawn and come back home at dusk. When I come back, I can't concentrate in studies for tiredness."
Sharif Hossain, a 10th grader of Enayetpur Islamia High School, Abdul Kader of Goalbari Village and Al Amin Hossain of Tehuri Village said if they had a school in their union, they could do better results in the exam.
Akhi Khatun, a 9th grader and Sabekunnahar, a 10th grader of Enayetpur Meherunnesa Girls' High School said due to the high transportation cost, they sometimes drop school. If they had a school at the union, they would not need to drop school.
Khokon Hossain of Goalbari Village said his son Sujon had passed JSC from Basantpur Junior Secondary School two years back. He could not continue his study due to the absence of a secondary school. Sujon now earns his livelihood by fishing.
His father also said since they're poor they can't send their children to secondary school far away. He demanded for a secondary school in the village.
President of school management committee Hatem Ali Master said children from about 16 villages come to the school. Not all the parents can afford to send their children to the secondary school in the neighbouring village.
He said that they are requesting the authority concerned to upgrade the school to a secondary school.
Principal of the school Saif Uddin Yahya said their students are lagging behind. He said that a school in the village is much needed.
District Secondary Education Officer Shafi Ullah said they have a plan to set up a secondary school in the area.
He also said Chowhali is an erosion-prone area. Many educational institutions have already been eroded here. Setting up a school at that area needs proper planning.
He also said that they have already proceeded with fixing a site to set up a school. The proposal is awaiting approval of the concerned ministry.
The life of the students will be eased, when a secondary school is set up here, he added.
