GURUDASPUR, NATORE, May 16: Even a small spell of rain is enough to disrupt normal activities at a century-old school in Gurudaspur, forcing thousands of students into daily hardship due to severe water-logging.
At the Gurudaspur Government Pilot Model High School, knee-deep water and muddy conditions regularly make movement difficult during the rainy season. Students, teachers and guardians struggle to reach classrooms, often arriving with wet clothes and mud-covered shoes.
Locals say the school field becomes waterlogged even after light rainfall, bringing classroom teaching, examinations and sports activities to a halt. They warn that if the field is not urgently renovated, students' education and physical development will continue to suffer.
The problem is mainly due to the low-lying condition of the school field, which has remained unchanged for years. Rainwater accumulates quickly, affecting not only this institution but also a nearby primary school that shares the same ground.
Headmaster Md Jahangir Alam Mithu said the situation worsens significantly after rain.
"Even a small amount of rainfall creates huge difficulties for students. The field is much lower than the school buildings and surrounding roads," he said.
He added that partial improvement work had been carried out earlier, but the field is still not properly levelled.
"If the field is developed properly for movement and sports, it would reduce the long-standing suffering of students, teachers and guardians," he said.
The school, with over a hundred years of history, is considered one of the leading institutions in the upazila, known for academic excellence and extracurricular activities. It has produced many professionals, including government officials, teachers and public representatives.
Parents say students often face risks of slipping and injury during rainy days while travelling to school. They believe proper renovation would ensure a safer and more suitable learning environment.
School chairman and Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Fahmida Afroze said the issue is being addressed.
"Necessary steps are being taken to improve the field and reduce student hardship," she said.
