Gloom envelops schools

Except those under the strict coverage of disciplinary fiats, the average schools in Bangladesh enjoy a carefree atmosphere. Students ranging from children to teenagers are used to it. Their curricular activities are carried out amid this ambience. After a long time, this leisurely pace had to undergo a break in 2021-`22, when schools were declared closed for a long stretch of time due to the onslaught of Covid-19. Upon reopening, schools went back to their earlier routine. This time the students were made to go by the anti-corona restrictions like compulsory wearing of masks. Following the recent outbreak of dengue, the normally restless school students had to face a new raft of anti-dengue measures. Although the burden of keeping the school compound free of the Aedes mosquito, the dengue vector, rested with the school authorities, the senior students also had to give a hand to the task of keeping their school clean. To speak acerbically, the fun of being present at school appears to be petering out.

Amid the media reports of the untidy school compound and the nearby surroundings, many guardians have stopped sending their wards to school. In reality, schools no longer offer students the seemingly endless fun-time. Against this backdrop, the unwarranted incidents like the one that had happened recently at a Satkhira school carry elements of dampers on senior school students. According to the print media, while celebrating the birthday of two fellow students at an empty classroom of the school, a few teachers stormed the venue and asked them to stop the jubilation. At one stage, the teachers started beating them, before one Raj and three others were taken to the head teacher's room. There, the students were allegedly assaulted once again by a few teachers mercilessly. At one stage, Raj fell sick and returned home. He died in a gap of half an hour. This unbelievably grim episode negates the jolly academic atmosphere supposed to dominate schools. A stiflingly disciplined environment doesn't befit an ideal educational institution. There are many schools in Dhaka and other cities, where lessons are imparted to students in an atmosphere free of excessive stress. A liberal atmosphere doesn't detract from schools' reputation as highly disciplined ones.

There are a lot of strictly administered schools in the capital. But these schools provide students with a breathing space, so that the students do not have to remain stifled by disciplinary rules. Too much restriction on the students' movement within school boundary at times backfires. During the 'lunch period' or after the school hours, many students take the freedom of engaging in some more extra-curricular activities. Realising the students' need, many school authorities overlook these excesses. During the past days of winter, groups of students would organise their own picnics --- apart from those arranged by the school authorities. The freedom-loving adolescent students had then yet to be guided by excessive supervision. Surprisingly, when it came to Board final examinations, these strictly overseen students didn't disappoint their teachers and the parents. The crux of the matter is the teenage students ought to be allowed to grow in their own style, befitting the times. Uncalled-for interference in their routine leads to many a bungling.

It's an ordeal on the part of the students --- especially those still at school that they had to pass through a period of pandemic. The authorities cannot ensure that the students will be completely free of the scourges like dengue. The prevalence of the maladies shows no sign of abatement. Against this upsetting backdrop, spontaneous 'excesses' indulged in by students can expect tolerance on the part of the educational institutions.

shihabskr@ymail.com