Six years on, school for visually impaired girls remains abandoned

A school built to provide free education and accommodation for visually impaired girls in Kishoreganj has never opened, even though construction finished more than six years ago.

The Integrated Visually Impaired Education Program School and Hostel, on Station Road, was completed in 2019 at a cost of Tk 1,61,99,000. The government initiative planned to accommodate and educate 10 girls aged between six and 16. Yet the building has not been used for a single day because the required staff were never appointed.

The two-storey facility includes three student rooms upstairs and three classrooms and an administrative office downstairs. It was equipped with 10 beds, fans, dining tables, chairs, cupboards, kitchen utensils, and other furniture. The compound has since fallen into neglect. Algae covers the walls, doors and windows have deteriorated, and plaster has peeled away. Nearly all the furniture, fans, water taps, electric motors, sanitary equipment, and other fittings have been stolen.

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items had been stolen from the school building several times due to its prolonged abandonment.

The school needs at least one teacher, one official to care for the students, an office assistant, a security guard, and a cook before it can open. A similar school and hostel in Kishoreganj’s Sholakia is already operating with 10 students, according to Social Services Office sources.

Ayesha Rashid, deputy superintendent of the neighbouring government children’s home for girls, said items had been stolen from the abandoned building several times. She said she had informed police in writing about security and environmental concerns affecting the children’s home.

Kamrul Islam, a civil society activist and organiser, urged the authorities to open the school and provide education opportunities for visually impaired girls. ATM Aminul Islam, deputy director of the District Social Services Office, said admissions would begin once the necessary staff were recruited. He added that higher authorities had been informed several times.

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make the school operational and ensure education opportunities for visually impaired girls