For more than two decades, students of Sultan Mia’s Bazar Junior Secondary School in Bhola have been receiving lessons inside rusted tin-shed classrooms, exposing them to serious safety risks and an unconducive learning environment.
The school, located in Aslam Union of Charfesson under Bhola, was established around 25 years ago with classrooms built using tin sheets and wood.
Over time, the tin roofs have corroded heavily, developing holes that allow rainwater to drip into classrooms, while extreme heat during sunny days makes sitting inside almost unbearable.
School authorities estimate that nearly 80 per cent of the infrastructure has deteriorated, leaving insufficient space to properly place benches and desks for students.
While neighbouring schools in the area have been upgraded with modern concrete buildings, Sultan Mia’s Bazar Junior Secondary School remains in a fragile condition due to years of inadequate maintenance, repeated repair failures and the impact of natural disasters.
Local residents have long warned that a major accident could occur at any moment, yet more than 200 students continue to attend classes there every day.
School officials said the institution was established in 2000 and came under the Monthly Pay Order (MPO) scheme in 2022, with permission to teach classes from grade six to eight.
Teachers said conducting classes during storms and rainfall is nearly impossible, as the tin-shed structure struggles to withstand strong winds, while broken doors and windows made of rotting wood often fail to close properly.
Yasmin Akter, a teacher at the school, said a pleasant and safe environment is essential for joyful learning, adding that a proper building would improve students’ mental well-being and academic performance.
Students echoed similar concerns, saying their books and notebooks get soaked during rain and classrooms become unbearably hot in summer, despite the quality of teaching remaining satisfactory.
Head teacher Jahiruddin Babar said the condition of the school has become alarming and urged the government to urgently allocate funds for constructing a safe and modern building.
Upazila Secondary Education Officer Abul Khayer said a suitable learning environment is crucial for education and acknowledged that the school is in urgent need of a building, adding that he would forward recommendations to higher authorities once the institution formally applies.
