Risky Classes at Digalbak Govt Primary School Amid Plaster Falls
Students at Digalbak Government Primary School are attending classes in a severely vulnerable building constructed in the 1994-95 fiscal year. Frequent plaster falls and structural cracks have raised serious safety concerns for the 108 enrolled children and four teachers.
The Digalbak Government Primary School, located in Digalbak village under Badolpur union of Ajmiriganj upazila, is facing an alarming crisis as students continue to attend classes inside a structurally compromised building. Constructed during the 1994-95 fiscal year, the educational facility originally comprises three classrooms and a single office room to accommodate its academic activities.
Years after its initial construction, the institution was officially nationalized in 2013. However, the physical condition of the school has deteriorated significantly over time. Currently, the building features visible cracks across its roof and walls, accompanied by frequent incidents where chunks of plaster detach and fall directly into the active rooms.
Head teacher Kakuli Rani Chowdhury expressed deep concern over the daily hazards faced by everyone on the premises. She stated that the school building remains in an extremely risky condition, with plaster falling inside every single room, leaving both students and staff in a state of constant panic. She further noted that conducting classes inside the rooms becomes exceptionally difficult on rainy days.
The continuous state of decay is taking a heavy toll on the children's education and psychological well-being. According to head teacher Kakuli Rani Chowdhury, the extreme vulnerability of the school building has created widespread fear among the students, causing them to lose their concentration on their studies.
Local guardian Ramendra Chandra Chowdhury pointed out that despite submitting applications for a new building over the past several years, no effective initiatives have been taken by the authorities. He warned that unless the school is swiftly reconstructed, there is a looming threat of a severe accident.
Addressing the gravity of the situation, Upazila Education Officer Sheikh Md. Rafiqul Islam confirmed that the educational institution has already been officially identified as hazardous. Despite this prior identification, classes continue inside the vulnerable structure as students and teachers await urgent intervention.
