Leaking roofs, cracked walls plague Jhenaidah’s old schools

At least nine old secondary schools in Jhenaidah are struggling with dilapidated buildings, inadequate classrooms and poor infrastructure, putting thousands of students at risk and disrupting regular academic activities.

According to the District Education Office, four of the schools are in Shailkupa upazila, two each in Jhenaidah Sadar and Harinakundu, and one in Maheshpur. None of the institutions has been nationalised despite their long educational heritage.

Nagerhat Secondary School in Shailkupa, established in 1881 on 74 decimals of land, is among the worst affected. More than 500 students study at the institution, where most of the 11 classrooms have become dilapidated and unusable.

Large cracks have developed in the roof, while peeling plaster has exposed reinforcement bars in the walls. The school's old tin-roofed structure also makes classes difficult during heavy rain and extreme heat.

Rainwater accumulates on the school grounds, preventing students from taking part in outdoor sports and other physical activities. Water leaking through the roof also damages students' books and notebooks.

The conditions at the other eight century-old schools in the district are reportedly similar. A shortage of classrooms has forced teachers to hold lessons in overcrowded spaces, storerooms and, in some cases, outdoors.

Teachers and students said urgent infrastructure development was needed to ensure a safe learning environment and preserve the institutions' educational heritage. They also called for the schools to be nationalised based on merit.

Contacted, Jhenaidah District Secondary Education Officer Md Lutfar Rahman said a list of century-old schools in the district had been prepared and sent to the concerned ministry and higher authorities.

Steps would be taken to develop their infrastructure and nationalise the institutions in phases in line with government policies, he added