Patna, September 9: More than 4,000 government schools have been submerged across 14 flood-hit districts of Bihar, potentially affecting the education of over three lakh students, even as the state Education Department has scheduled half-yearly examinations for Classes 1 to 12 from September 15.
Floods were affecting 514 village panchayats in 84 blocks across the 14 districts on Wednesday, with the Ganga, Gandak, Kosi, Punpun, Bagmati and Ghagra rivers flowing above the danger mark at several locations. Water levels, however, started receding at some places.
The decision to conduct examinations amid widespread waterlogging and suspended classes has triggered concerns among students, parents and teachers. Students said less than one-third of the syllabus had been completed in many schools because of the floods, shortage of teachers and transfers.
The Education Department has asked students to bring mats and polythene sheets from home for examinations to be conducted in village panchayat buildings and open spaces in their respective areas.
“This came as an utter surprise for us. When even the course syllabus is not completed by the teachers due to the floods, how can the department ask students to bring mats and polythene sheets from home for the exam?” said Harishankar Mandal, a parent from Naugachhia in Bhagalpur district.
His son, a Class 12 student, studies at a government school that has remained submerged under waist-deep water for the past 10 days, during which classes have been suspended.
Primary school teachers’ union leader Anand Mishra said students would face considerable difficulties in appearing for the examinations as several schools remained submerged and approach roads were damaged.
“Schools in over a dozen districts in Bihar are submerged in flood. Waterlogging persists and approach roads are broken, so students will have great difficulties in taking the exams. The Education Department must take action on these issues,” Mishra said.
The examination for Classes 1 to 8 will begin on September 15, while Classes 9 and 10 will have their exams from September 21 and Class 12 from September 18. Supply of answer sheets to schools will begin from September 12.
In Dhanki village on the outskirts of Patna, where a government school has been submerged by Punpun river floodwaters, students were recently seen trying to reach the school by boat with the help of a rope. Parents have urged the district administration to make alternative arrangements for students to safely reach examination centres.
Education Minister Mithilesh Tiwari said necessary directions had been issued for flood-hit areas so that students’ academic preparations were not hampered.
“Students’ safety is our prime concern and we are in the process of making alternative arrangements for them,” a senior Education Department official said.
Meanwhile, around 40.21 lakh people have been affected by the floods, which the State Disaster Management Department attributed to incessant rainfall in several districts and catchment areas of Nepal, causing rivers and their tributaries to overflow.
Relief and rescue operations are being carried out by 27 State Disaster Response Force and 10 National Disaster Response Force teams. The government has established 723 community kitchens and 15 relief camps.
Around 1.94 lakh polythene sheets, 29,400 dry-ration packets and 5,178 quintals of animal fodder have been distributed among affected people, while 1,979 boats are being used for relief and rescue operations.
The flood-hit districts are Patna, Bhojpur, Saran, Vaishali, Bhagalpur, Begusarai, Samastipur, Buxar, Katihar, Munger, Lakhisarai, Khagaria, Arwal and Purnea.
