Earthquake damaged schools

THE aftershocks of the massive quakes epicentered in Nepal have resulted in damages to some 61 primary schools in nine upazilas of Pabna district. According to a report in this paper on May 21 some 12,000 students have to attend classes in difficult conditions since the structural integrity of their schools has been compromised. The ministry in charge of primary education has conducted a damage assessment of the schools and found out that most of them were relatively new buildings. Though constructed two decades ago, the shocks have left them in a precarious state. 

Apparently many students are either attending school in makeshift arrangements or wholly under the open sky. The fact that so many students are bereft of proper classrooms is a matter of great import and renovation of affected structures must be a priority for both school administration and the ministry concerned.

That three weeks have passed since the appraisal and no financial allocation made to bring the schools back in shape is something that is unacceptable, more so when the rainy season will soon be upon us. What will happen to these children's education in the backdrop of the two sets of circumstances – earthquake induced damage and foot dragging on repairs in the face of the impending rainy season? We urge the authorities to immediately take adequate steps to repair the damaged infrastructure so that the pupils can pursue their studies unhindered.