Vitor Goul Government Primary School Submerged After Rain, Education Disrupted.

Naeem Ahmed, Jaintapur-Gowainghat, Sylhet. Even a light rainfall causes the playground and front area of Vitor Goul Government Primary School in Bichnakandi Union of Gowainghat Upazila, Sylhet, to become waterlogged. As a result, students, teachers and guardians are facing severe difficulties, while normal educational activities are being disrupted. Around 310 students from four nearby villages study at the school. During rainfall, the school grounds and access road become submerged, forcing students to walk through dirty water to reach their classrooms. Their clothes, books and notebooks often get wet, while outdoor activities are also disrupted. Locals allege that although the unpaved road beside the school was filled with soil several months ago, no proper drainage system or culvert was installed. As a result, rainwater has no outlet and accumulates on the school premises. Headteacher Salahuddin Sarkar said, “The entire school ground goes underwater after even a small amount of rain. Filling the ground with soil and constructing a proper drainage system or culvert could provide a permanent solution.” Upazila Education Officer Iftekhar Hossain Bhuiyan said the authorities are aware of the problem and have sought a detailed report from the headteacher. Necessary steps will be taken in coordination with the relevant authorities. Gowainghat Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Ratan Kumar Adhikari said steps would be taken to establish proper drainage or a culvert to remove water from the school premises. Teachers, students and guardians have urged the authorities to take immediate measures to resolve the waterlogging, considering the education and safety of the 310 students.