The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

The country would need 110 million US dollar equivalent to Taka 7,602 million to reconstruct 5,297 fully or partially Sidr damaged educational institutes.

While donation from major development partners are still sipping in total value of damage, while losses of Bangladeshi educational sector in the Sidr affected areas stood at Taka 4.7 billion.

According to an official assessment, the highest number of fully destroyed primary schools are located in Barguna where 230 are totally damaged. The number of damaged schools in Pirojpur is 149, Barisal 91 and Bagerhat 68.

The assessment report of the government claimed that the highest number of partially destroyed primary schools are in Barisal as the total number stood at 632.

In Patuakhali the number is 550, Pirojpur 401, Jhalakathi 340, and Baguna 335.

The worst affected, both fully and partially destroyed schools are in Barisal which stood at 723, it said.

As per the initial assessment, a total of 9,655 educational institutions have been fully or partially destroyed in 19 of the 30 cyclone affected districts.

The education ministry said it had decided to take a short- run programme to resume academic activities in the cyclone- ravaged institutions by constructing temporary structures, providing books and study materials, waiving examination fees and rescheduling public examinations.

The ministry said the government has already provided funding of Taka 745 million for repairs of 4,000 partially destroyed schools. It is reported that 95 percent of school repairs have been completed.

Sources said about 60 percent of the 784 makeshift schools would need to be constructed anew as they were fully damaged. By this time, the communities, however, have established some arrangements to resume classes.