Education in Nazirpur Beel areas hampered due to the EIN crisis
SM Shipper,
Nazirpur (Pirojpur)
Padmadubi Model High School (Proposed) was established in 2020 to expand education in the remote areas of Deulbari Dobra Union, No. 3, Nazirpur Upazila, Pirojpur.
The future of more than a hundred students is uncertain due to the lack of EIIN codes for a long time. The institution had become a beacon of hope for the children of this region who commute to school by boat every day, but now that progress has come to a halt due to the long delay in getting EIIN approval.
In this remote area, waterlogging during the rainy season and traversing long muddy paths during the dry season create major obstacles in the daily commute of students. As a result, it becomes difficult for many to maintain regular attendance at distant schools. According to locals, there is no secondary school within three to four kilometers of the surrounding area. Therefore, boats are the only hope for the students here. Long river routes, currents and seasonal hardships make their educational life uncertain every day. Due to this adverse situation, the number of students in the school has also decreased significantly, which is further hampering the progress of the institution.
In this situation, the parents believe that if the nearby school opens, it will be possible to retain many students who have dropped out. The people of the area had hoped that the institution would become a safe place for education. But now that hope is being dashed due to not getting EIIN.
Although school teachers continue to teach out of humanitarian obligation in disadvantaged conditions, they are unable to retain regular students due to lack of institutional recognition. As families are also in dilemma about their children's education, children who were once school-going are again dropping out of education. This disruption of the normal educational flow of the region has raised concerns.
Locals allege that a group of individuals have raised objections in a planned manner to hinder the progress of the school. According to them, the complaint has been filed without considering the real situation of the area, which has complicated the process of recognition of the institution. The school also considers the matter very unfortunate, because if the educational flow in this valley stops, future generations will suffer.
The current crisis at the school has also caused frustration among the students. Rifat, a sixth-grade student, and Nadia Akter, a seventh-grade student, said in tearful voices that they are scared and uncertain about their studies as the school is about to close. According to them, if the school is open, they will not have to travel to distant schools by boat and will be able to continue their studies regularly. They have expressed their desire to protect their future education by demanding recognition of the school.
Due to not getting EIIN, the institution is not able to move towards MPO registration. This is causing financial crisis for the teachers and hindering the development of a complete academic environment. Therefore, the demand for the institution to get recognition quickly is becoming stronger for the sake of development of the area, student safety and expansion of education.
People in the remote coastal areas feel that the reality of this river-dependent region - long boat journeys, seasonal hardships, and lack of nearby schools - are the biggest obstacles to their children's education. They feel that if this school opens, parents will be a little more relaxed, children will be relieved of the hassle of daily commuting, and the dropout rate will also decrease.
The people of the entire Belan region are now hoping that the school's EIIN issuance process will be reactivated soon, considering the on-the-ground reality and local education needs.
The school's headmaster, Md. Mainul Islam, said, "We have been trying to build the school for a long time. We have not yet received EIIN due to one complaint. Obtaining EIIN is a prerequisite for MPO registration. If we get it, then education in this area will expand and our teachers will be freed from living inhumane lives."
He expressed hope that the concerned authorities will resolve this issue soon.
Upazila Secondary Education Officer Md. Zahirul Alam said that since a complaint has been filed, the higher authorities will take necessary action as per the rules, subject to investigation.
Professor Md. Rafiqul Islam Khan
School Inspector, Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board, Barishal, said that their previous efforts were of no use, and if they want to apply again, they will have to apply.
