Students of at least 139 primary schools in nine upazilas of Kurigram are attending their classes under the open sky due to dreadful situation of the school buildings.

During a visit to Boro Mohismuri Government Primary School in Ulipur upazila, it was found that one of the two buildings in the school has developed cracks at different parts, and plasters on walls and roofs of most of the buildings were falling apart, reports UNB.

Two beams of the building have recently collapsed and the school authorities imposed a prohibition on entry into the building and started taking classes of class V and class I under the open sky.

Afia Akhter, a class V student of Boro Mohismuri Government Primary School, told UNB, ‘We cannot enter class for fear of building collapse. Our sir takes classes on school ground under the open sky.’

Acting head teacher of the school Mostafa Fazle Rabbi said there are two buildings in the school. Of them, cracks were spotted in one of the buildings that was constructed in 1995-1996.

During the visit, it was found that teachers of Mojiran Nesa Government Primary School in Rajarhat upazila are taking classes in a one-storey building despite risks.

Kurigram district primary education officer Enamul Haque said, ‘We've got a list of 139 risky school buildings where students are being taught by teachers under open sky.’

The risky buildings include 35 in Ulipur upazila, three in Sadar, 29 in Nageshwari, 10 in Fulbari, 29 in Bhurangamari, 12 in Rajarhat and 21 in Roumari upazilas. However, no risky buildings are in Chilmari and Rajibpur upazilas.

‘We sent the list of the affected schools to the authorities concerned on October 13 this year,’ he said.