Bindu Bidyaniketan: A school that brings learning, joy and nature together

The school, providing free stationery and uniforms to its 60 students, has yet to be listed under the MPO

A typical art class in a regular school requires students to bring colour pencils and stationery from home. This specific school, however, deviates from the norm with its students collecting leaves, flowers, turmeric and other ingredients to prepare colours. Then they draw pictures of the hills, forests, and the natural environment they live in.

This is how the teachers at a school in the remote hilly area of Khagrachhari are inspiring their students to learn with joy and using sources other than textbooks. Students too, have grown accustomed to the enjoyable learning system.

Wasu village is situated 5km away from Matiranga Sadar Upazila. Most of the residents are from the Marma and Tripura communities. “Bindu Bidyaniketan” was founded six years ago to prevent children from dropping out of school. Just as “Bindu” means droplet, children learn “drop by drop” from nature here in this school. Besides, they pledge to upkeep nature.

Local resident Uthoi Marma said Rubber Gardens No. 1,2,3 and 4, Kailangshi Para, Toikumba Para, Gonochandra Karbari Para, Shushok Para, Chilok Para, Bil Para, Thangtu Para, Headman Para and Notun Para comprise the Wasu area.

There is a primary school in the area but no secondary school. Hence, children could only study until fifth grade. Most of the locals are poor and cannot afford to send their children to the district or Upazila schools so far away.

In 2019, Zahed Ahmed Tutul, a native of Matiranga, founded the school to prevent children from dropping out of education.

Initially, he opened a lower secondary school that enabled children to study from sixth to eighth grade.

"Children in the locality could not study beyond primary level. Tutul Bhai initially taught in the open, sitting under a tree. Then he set up a school. Locals helped him," said Ruipruchai Marma, a local.

“Even the children in the village were not interested in studying. He went door to door and convinced people to send their children to school. Now the children study and produce good academic results."

Khiluaung Marma, a trader from Rubber Garden No. 1, said: "Tutul Bhai contacted us. Then he built the school here. Before this, those who could afford it, used to send their children to Matiranga to study in sixth grade and beyond. But those who couldn't, their children couldn't study beyond primary education. Now, even the poor people are sending their children to study."

“Locals offered their labour to set up the school. Many of them dug the ground while some donated bamboo and tree logs. They got assistance from everyone. It was impossible to send the children to school five kilometres away. That's why the school was established."

After Zahed Ahmed Tutul's death in a road accident in 2021, Rajib Chakraborty took over as the headmaster.

Rajib said the school, which has 60 students, had yet to be listed under MPO. Still, the school provides free uniforms, textbooks and stationery to the students, he said. Hence, the school is dependent on locals financially.

The school is run with contributions from 34 donors who are assisting in providing education. In 2021, then Khagrachhari deputy commissioner Pratap Chandra Biswas donated Tk 200,000 to the school. However, Rajib said the school has a water and electricity crisis.

Recently, bdnews24.com visited the school and spoke to the teachers, students and parents. The school was set up on 20 decimals of land, they said.

Students collected leaves, flowers, turmeric and other natural ingredients and made colour paste with them. Then they drew pictures with those colours on white papers. Using the colours of nature, they depicted the rural natural beauty of Bangladesh. These activities are a regular part of school.

Common and rare trees can be found around the school. A huge forest is situated next to it. Teachers take their students to the forest and introduce them to the trees. This lesson is called “Prakriti Path” or a lesson on nature. This enables students to realise the necessity of conserving the trees.

Nishita Tripura, a student at the school said: "Besides studying, our teachers introduce us to the trees and natural elements around us. We draw pictures, and learn to sing and dance. We also have drama class. The school provides us with uniforms and educational materials. We have agriculture projects and sports facilities as well."

"Earlier, we had no secondary school here, so no one could study beyond the primary level. Now we can study," said another student Angkra Marma.

Hlathuiching Marma, Hlamingching Marma and Mina Tripura are the teachers at the school. They said besides supplying textbooks and stationery to the students, the school reminds them during morning assembly every day to conserve nature.

There is no lower secondary school in the 10 neighbouring villages. Now the dropout rate has gone down after the school was set up and students are learning in a coeducational environment.

Sushanta Barua, a physician, has been a member of the governing body of the school since its inception. He said Tutul founded the school to provide education to the people from the privileged groups.

Tutul started to teach children under the name 'Pathshala Bindu Theke' with help from the villagers. Currently, his endeavour has turned into the school "Bindu Bidyaniketan".

When asked about the MPO-listing of the school, Principal Rajib Chakraborty said the school had some land-related complications. "We'll apply for the MPO once those complications are cleared."

Shariful Islam, academic supervisor at the Khagrachhari Secondary Education Office, said: "I have visited the school quite a few times. The teachers are providing lessons to the students from local ethnic groups with much enthusiasm. The school has got a good response in the area. They give us the list of required books at the beginning of the year and we supply it accordingly."