RAUTAHAT, JULY 3
The arrival of monsoon rains in Nepal has brought along various monsoon-related disasters and discomforts affecting daily life across the country. In Rautahat, the heavy rains have caused severe distress at a community school, putting young students at significant risk.
Janata Primary School, located in Durga Bhagwati Rural Municipality-1, has faced a challenging situation and had to close due to the inability to provide a conducive environment for teaching and learning activities during the monsoon rains.
The school compound is flooded with an average of one to two feet of rainwater, which has also seeped into the classrooms, reported Principal Mukesh Chaudhary. This has made it impossible to continue teaching and learning activities, forcing the school to shut down, he added.
The school premise is in the lower elevation that the surrounding lands, causing water to accumulate even during light rainfall.
Approximately 350 students from grades 1 to 5 attend the school.
The presence of insects and pests in the stagnant water poses an additional risk, Chaudhary said, explaining the reason for the school's closure. Despite repeatedly informing the education department at the local level about the issues, no action has been taken so far, he said.
He emphasized that without a proper drainage system for the rainwater from the school premises, it is impossible to continue teaching and learning activities, during this monsoon season.