Every monsoon brings the same ordeal for students, teachers and parents at Sher-e-Bangla Secondary Girls' in Patuakhali, where chronic waterlogging and ageing infrastructure continue to disrupt education and raise serious safety concerns.

For the 857 students enrolled at the historic institution, classes are frequently interrupted as rainwater inundates the campus, while deteriorating buildings leave teachers and guardians worried about the safety of children.

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Established in 1969, Sher-e-Bangla Secondary Girls' School is one of the oldest educational institutions in southern Bangladesh. It has around 30 teachers and staff and five academic buildings, most of which are several decades old.

The last academic building was constructed in 1996 under the Education Engineering Department, with no new building added in nearly three decades.

A visit to the campus revealed large cracks on walls, damaged roofs and worn-out verandas, raising safety concerns among teachers and guardians.

Even moderate rainfall leaves the school field, internal roads and areas in front of classrooms submerged for days due to poor drainage. Students are often forced to wade through water to reach classrooms, while the stagnant water increases the risk of snakes, scorpions and other reptiles entering the premises.

According to the school authorities, waterlogging forces the institution to remain closed for several days for every year apart from disrupting classroom teaching for other days during the rainy season.

Frequent disruption to classes means the school holds nearly 10 percent fewer classes annually than many other institutions, putting additional pressure on teachers and students to complete the syllabus on time.

The impact extends beyond classroom teaching.

The school's large playground remains under water for nearly six months every year, preventing regular sports, physical education classes, parades, annual competitions and other co-curricular activities that are considered essential for children's physical and mental development.

Rahima Mini, headmistress of the school, said repeated applications have been submitted to the Education Engineering Department, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief and other relevant authorities seeking a new academic building and improved drainage facilities.

"Although recommendations were also made by the then deputy commissioner, no visible progress has been made so far," she said.

Students say the recurring waterlogging affects both their studies and extracurricular activities.

When it rains, knee-deep water accumulates on the field and they often have to enter classrooms through water, they said.

If the water level rises further, classes are suspended. Since the playground remains underwater for months, sports and physical training also remain closed, they said.

Parents also expressed concern over the safety of sending their children to the ageing buildings.

Some guardians, including Abul Kashem, Monoj Kanti and Manju Mia, said they are constantly worried about the condition of the buildings.

Regular class disruptions are affecting students' academic progress, they said, demanding new buildings and a permanent solution to the drainage problem as soon as possible.

Acting Executive Engineer of the Education Engineering Department in Patuakhali Md Manirul Kabir said improving the drainage system will require coordination with the municipality.

"The construction of a new academic building depends on government approval and budget allocation. The school's proposal has been included in the priority list submitted by the local lawmaker. Necessary steps will be taken once approval is received," he said.

Patuakhali-1 MP and former Home Minister Altaf Hossain Chowdhury said he has already written to the relevant ministry regarding the construction of a new building and will continue extending necessary support.

Educationists say the crisis goes beyond infrastructure, warning that continued learning disruptions and the absence of sports and co-curricular activities could have long-term consequences for students' academic performance and overall development.

They stressed the need for urgent construction of a new academic building, renovation of unsafe structures and installation of a permanent drainage system to ensure a safe and quality learning environment for students.