Children swim across five to seven canals to get to school
- The road becomes impassable during the monsoon.
Students have to cross five to seven canals every day to get to school. Photo: Agamir Somoy.
Children in an isolated island village (char) swim across five to seven canals every day to reach their school.
On his way to school, a second-grade child fell into the strong currents from a fragile bamboo bridge. Unable to pull himself out of the water due to an eye injury, his father eventually rushed to the spot and rescued him.
For the children of Charkarfarma in Patuakhali's Galachipa, such life-threatening hazards are a daily reality. To attend school, they must cross five to seven canals each day—sometimes swimming, sometimes balancing on rickety bamboo bridges.
The risk worsens during the rainy season and high tides when the water levels rise and currents strengthen. A slight misstep could lead to a major accident, and communication often shuts down entirely. Yet, to continue their education, these young students have no choice but to brave this dangerous journey.
Around 1,500 people from nearly 400 families live in the isolated Charkarfarma area of Galachipa Sadar Union. Charkarfarma Government Primary School was established there in 2018. It stands as the only educational institution and concrete building on the entire island. However, there are no roads or safe bridges leading to the school.
According to local residents, 20 to 30 students cross the surrounding canals daily to attend classes. During high tides and the monsoon season, these canals become exceptionally dangerous, sometimes cutting off all access completely. As a result, student attendance drops, and their regular studies are severely disrupted.
A fourth-grade student said, "We swim across many canals to reach school. It is very hard. I have to bring two sets of clothes—one that I wear and another that I pack in my bag. Once I reach school, I change into the dry clothes."
Md. Nisar Uddin, acting headmaster of Charkarfarma Government Primary School, said both teachers and students must cross these canals to reach the institution, facing immense hardship daily. He stressed the urgent need to construct roads and bridges over the canals.
Galachipa Upazila Primary Education Officer Md. Golam Sagir, however, said that because the area lies low, it submerges during high tide. The issue has been reported to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer, the engineering department, and higher authorities. A proposal has been submitted to build bridges over several canals and pave the remaining pathways into proper roads.
The residents of the island express a simple plea: they no longer want to see their children risk drowning or being swept away by strong currents just to get some education. They demand the construction of safe roads and bridges, alongside necessary flood-protection embankments to maintain communication during surges. They hope that with safe transportation, the daily peril facing Charkarfarma's children on their path to education will finally come to an end.
