Katihar (Bihar), Sep 15: When floodwaters submerged homes, roads and schools in Raghunathpur village of Bihar’s Katihar district, teacher Mohammad Saheb found an unusual way to keep children learning — he turned a boat into a classroom.
Saheb, who runs private coaching classes, has been conducting lessons from a boat anchored near the submerged school in the flood-hit village under Amdabad block.
The floods have severely affected seven blocks of Katihar, impacting around 939,766 people and disrupting normal life, including access to educational institutions.
With the consent of parents, Saheb personally brings students to the boat for classes and ensures they return home safely after the lessons. The classes are conducted for around one to one-and-a-half hours.
Saheb said the water level around the area was low and the surroundings remained calm, making it possible to conduct the classes safely.
He said prolonged disruption to education could affect children’s futures and skill development, and the boat school was an effort to keep their learning going despite the difficult circumstances.
The students, meanwhile, have adapted to the unusual classroom and said they are not afraid of studying on the boat.
Satyam, a Class 5 student, said his guardians allow him to attend the classes because “the water is shallow”.
Annu, a Class 6 student, said she “does not feel afraid while studying on the boat”. She said she enjoys the classes and believes continuing education is important.
The boat classroom has emerged as a symbol of determination among the teacher and his students, who have refused to let the floods completely interrupt their education.
While the disaster has cut off the usual routes to schools and coaching centres, the makeshift classroom has provided the children with a way to continue their studies as the village remains surrounded by floodwater.
For Saheb and his students, the boat has become more than a means of transport — it has turned into a classroom where learning continues despite the odds.
