Students return to their classes amid fear, anxiety

"The losses they’re suffering from seem endless. Even then I won't send my son to school until the situation turns normal," said one parent

Students across the country are returning to their classrooms after nearly a month that saw historic change in Bangladesh. However, concerns linger about the volatility of the situation.

As the law and order situation has yet to normalise, students are going to the school amid fear and anxiety. Parents want the authorities to ensure extra security for educational institutions.

Tamanna Rahman, an eighth grader at the South Point School and College in Mirpur, went back to school on Sunday.

Her mother Parul Akhter was worried about the safety of her daughter. She decided to ferry her daughter to school herself.

"Children have suffered from a big loss in their learning in the last few days. Even then I feel scared to send her to school. The situation on the roads isn’t. There's no security at all," she said.

"The police stations are empty; all the criminals are outside. There can be attacks at any time anywhere. Robbery and theft have increased. That's why I am not letting her go alone."

Shafiqul Islam, the father of a student studying in grade 10 in Banasree Ideal School and College said the school was reopened on Aug 7, but he did not send his son to school over security concerns.

“Schools reopened after the army chief’s announcement, but I haven’t sent my child [to school]. I’ll send him only when there’s an announcement from the ministry. And I can’t muster the courage to send my son to school given the current law and order situation.”

The father believed that it would be quite a loss for students if their studies were interrupted with the SSC and equivalent exams coming up in a few months.

“This is an important time for them. But I couldn’t send him to school. The loss they’re suffering from is endless. Even then I won't send my son to school until the situation becomes normal,” Shafiqul said.

Although educational institutions have reopened, most students have not returned to classes.

As attendance was low, the school authorities could not resume regular academic activities, said Mohammad Enam Hossain, acting principal of Motijheel Ideal School and College.

“Many people are still terrified. Some are awaiting a government announcement to reopen the schools. But student attendance is very low. On average, 10-11 percent of students are showing up. Hence, we can’t resume normal lessons,” he said.

Residential Model College Vice Principal Asma Begum said their institution had yet to resume classes.

“We couldn’t resume classes as we have army camps in the school. The classrooms aren’t vacant. Many of our students live in the school dorms, they couldn’t come back. The situation is still not favourable for their return. They are still anxious,” she said.

Very few students showed up at Adarsha High School at Mirpur-10.

”Around 15 percent of the students have shown up. Others haven’t returned yet. Many of them are busy in maintaining the traffic and cleaning up the city,” said Headmaster Nure Alam.

Students, too, want to resume classes in a safe environment.

Samia Rahman, a ninth grader at Monipur High School in Shewrapara, returned to school on Sunday.

“It’s true that I’m going to school now, but these days we’re dead scared of robbers. I believe it would be better if there was a team of army, police or any other law enforcers,” she said.