Academic activities of students of primary to college level are seriously hampered every year due to floods across the country in August-September, as ‘flood-friendly’ academic session has not yet been introduced.
Generally, August-October is the most important period for students of conventional January-December academic calendar. During this period, they sit for second term examinations or take preparations for final exams usually held in November.
However, the two months — August and September — is the probable time for flood, especially in the northern districts. If flood hits, October is usually spent to repair the damaged school and college buildings.
Every year, on an average 30 percent schools and colleges are badly damaged or used as shelter houses for the flood victims. As a result, the authorities have to keep the institutions closed, sources at the Food and Disaster Management Centre said.
Academicians suggest that academic calendar for primary, high school and colleges should be July-June period with a view to avoiding impacts of flood.
English medium institutions in Bangladesh, however, follow the July-June calendar.
Students usually become idle and often classes are not seriously taken during December-January after the annual exams, the academicians point out.
If the annual exams are held before July, flood, if occurs, will not affect the academic activities that much, they add.
“Time has come to reschedule our academic sessions. It’s a good idea to start the session from July considering the effects of floods,” said renowned educationist Prof Serajul Islam Choudhury.
“The government should consider this idea and hold talks with teachers and others concerned to introduce a flood-friendly academic session,” he added.
This year, most of the flood-affected institutions are yet to resume educational activities, resulting in dropouts of many poor students, said Selim Bhuiyan, coordinator of Shikkhak Karmachari Oikya Jote, a platform of eight organisations of non-government teachers and employees.
“As Bangladesh is a flood-prone country, we should maintain a flood-friendly academic calendar. Our students won’t be victimised by floods any more if the annual exams end before July,” he added.
Education Joint Secretary (Secondary) Nazrul Islam Khan admitted that academic session should be introduced considering floods.
“We’ll consider the idea and discuss it with academicians and concerned people if a formal proposal is tabled,” he told The Daily Star.
He however pointed out that scheduled vacation for students should be given based on regional atmospheres and demands so that students’ studies are not hampered.
“The summer vacation or other long-term holidays may be issued during August-September in the flood-prone areas,” he said.
This year, over 10,000 educational institutions in 39 districts were submerged or made flood shelters during flood attacks. The authorities were forced to keep those institutions closed and postpone schools’ second term examinations.
According to the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management, educational institutions housed most of the 1,812 flood shelters opened by the government this year.
Apart from that, flooding has damaged 557 educational institutions completely and 7,565 others partially, sources in the flood control centre said.
Most of the flood-affected schools are situated in northern and northeastern districts, especially in Sirajganj, Munshiganj, Rajbari, Faridpur, Comilla, Bogra, Pabna, Gaibandha, Nilphamari, Kurigram, Shariatpur, Rangpur, Manikganj, Sunamganj, and Madaripur.
Facilities in many educational establishments in these districts were also damaged by flood victims, said sources at the education ministry.
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