259 Primary Schools in Habiganj Listed as Risky, Pupils in Fear of Roof Collapse

As many as 259 government primary schools in Habiganj district have been identified as risky. Fears of roof collapse in these school buildings have created deep anxiety among young pupils, their parents and teachers.

A primary school means a daily classroom for children aged roughly five to eleven. Children of that age cannot sense danger themselves, and their ability to move away quickly is limited. A building being marked risky is therefore not just a problem of a structure; it is a question of the safety of hundreds of children every single day.

Such a large number of schools appearing on the risky list presents a real picture of the primary education infrastructure in the district. Old buildings, a lack of regular maintenance and slow repair work usually combine to create a situation where teachers and pupils have to sit in classrooms amid uncertainty.

The fear of roof collapse is particularly worrying. During the monsoon and heavy rain, water accumulating on a weak roof increases the risk further. Because of the fear, many parents may hesitate to send their children to school, which directly affects attendance and learning.

The situation is also difficult for teachers. Continuing lessons on the one hand and looking after children inside a risky building on the other creates extra mental pressure on them. If a building becomes unusable, there is also a risk that lessons will stop unless alternative classrooms are arranged.

After such a list emerges, the natural expectation is that schools will be divided according to the level of risk and that action will be taken first for the most dangerous buildings. In some places classes may need to be shifted temporarily, in others urgent repairs may be needed, and in some places new buildings may have to be built — the need is not the same for every school.

Experience in other districts of Sylhet Division also shows that the crisis of primary school buildings is not Habiganj's alone. But the figure of 259 risky schools in a single district makes the depth of the problem clear.

Parents expect that the matter will not remain confined to preparing a list. If clear information is available on when repairs will start at which school and where children will study during the repairs, the fear can subside to a large extent.

There is little room for delay when it comes to children's safety. Classes continuing every day in risky buildings mean carrying the risk every day. Those concerned therefore see urgent inspection, risk verification and priority-based repairs as the most pressing tasks now.

It remains to be seen how quickly real measures are taken based on this list of 259 schools and how soon children can return to safe classrooms, leaving the fear behind.