Edu officer meets flood-hit kids, motivate them to attend school

Children displaced by the recent floods in Dhakka Basti village from Lohian block, Shahkot, are hoping to return to school. Teachers and education officials have been visiting the makeshift settlements on the bundh to motivate them.

With their homes submerged and Government Primary School in Dhakka Basti completely underwater, the students are now living under tarpaulin shelters on the bundh.

The Education Department has arranged for these students to attend classes at Government School in Mundi Kasu. On Tuesday, Block Primary Education Officer (BPEO), Lohian, visited the bundh, urging parents to send their children back to school.

Children from Dhakka Basti, who study at the Government Middle School, Mundi Cholian, also missed their school today. Although their school building remains undamaged, many students are displaced and unable to concentrate on their studies, and some are living at the relatives' place.

Kulwinder Singh, head teacher at Government Middle School, has taken it upon himself to visit the bundh every day, motivating students to resume their education.

“Examinations are scheduled to begin next week,” said Singh. “The students can’t study properly in these conditions, so I’ve been urging them to return to school so we can help them prepare.”

Despite the relentless efforts of dedicated teachers like Singh, the trauma of displacement and ongoing hardships continue to pose challenge.

Suneha Kaur, a 13-year-old who is living on the bundh, said her exams were approaching but she was unable to study or even think of right now.