St Philip’s closure leaves Pabna indigenous children without education
Photo: Agamir Somoy
Financial crisis, social discrimination, lack of awareness, and superstition have long kept education out of reach for children in Ishwardi’s indigenous villages in Pabna.
Nearly 5,000 people from seven indigenous communities reside across various villages in the upazila. Among them, the Mal Paharia community mostly lives in Marmi village under Dashuria Union, while the Bagdi community mostly lives in Patirajpur village under Muladuli Union.
There is no dedicated educational institution for indigenous children in Marmi and Patirajpur. As a result, they are forced to walk one to one and a half kilometers to attend schools in neighboring villages.
Due to the long distance, many children do not want to go to school regularly, leading some to drop out of their studies and join their parents in farming.
In 1932, a children’s education center named St Philip’s was established through local initiatives in Marmi, the largest indigenous village in the upazila. Later, a concrete infrastructure was constructed there.
From the beginning, over 100 students studied at the educational center. Initially operated by a Christian Mission and later by a non-governmental development organization named Caritas, its educational activities were shut down in 2018 due to a financial crisis.
Speaking with village residents revealed that many people later pursued higher education after receiving education from St Philip’s Children’s Education Center. However, as the institution has remained closed for a long time, the new generation of children is deprived of that opportunity, leaving the center’s premises - once vibrant with the chatter of children - now silent.
Barnat Biswas, head of the Marmi indigenous village, said, “With the school closed, children’s opportunity to receive education in the Christian religion and their own language has also been shut down. Even though they study at schools in neighboring villages, there is no opportunity there to learn about their own religion and language. To preserve our language, culture, and tradition, St Philip’s Education Center needs to be reopened.”
Agnes Madhabi Biswas, a former teacher at St Philip’s, said, “Due to a lack of funds, the only children’s educational institution in the indigenous village has remained closed for a long time. No government or private institution or agency has come forward to reopen it. Children have to walk one to one and a half kilometers to go to neighboring schools. As a result, many are becoming averse to education.”
Local UP Member Rafiqul Islam added that the closure of the education center has made studying difficult for the children of Marmi village. Despite contacting the then Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Education Officer several times to reopen the school, no assurance was received.
Officials from Caritas and the Christian Mission were also contacted, but there was no response.
Ishwardi Upazila Primary Education Officer Shahina Akter said she was unaware of this children’s education center in the indigenous village, but assured that she would investigate why the institution remains closed and take necessary measures.
