Devastating floods have severely affected seven blocks in Bihar’s Katihar district, impacting a population of 939,766. Amid the disruption, a teacher in the remote Amdabad block has found an unusual way to ensure that children continue their education.
In Raghunathpur village, the floodwaters have submerged homes, roads and schools. With normal life disrupted and the effects of the floods expected to linger even after the water recedes, Mohammad Saheb, who runs private coaching classes, has started conducting lessons from a boat anchored near the submerged school.
TEACHER BRINGS STUDENTS TO BOAT SCHOOL
Mohammad Saheb’s aim is to ensure that the children’s education and skill development do not suffer because of the floods. With the consent of their parents, he personally brings the students to the boat for their classes and ensures that they return home safely after the lessons.
The classes are held for around one to one-and-a-half hours. According to the teacher, the water level in the area is low, and the surroundings are calm, making the boat-based classroom safe for the students.
He said prolonged disruption to education can affect children’s futures and skill development. His boat school is an effort to keep their learning going despite the difficult circumstances.
CHILDREN CONTINUE LEARNING DESPITE FLOODS
The students attending the classes say they are not afraid of studying on the boat. With water surrounding their homes, roads and coaching centres, they have adapted to the circumstances.
Satyam, a Class 5 student, said his guardians allow him to attend the boat school because the water is shallow. Annu, a Class 6 student, also said she does not feel afraid while studying on the boat. She enjoys the classes and believes it is important to continue learning.
A CLASSROOM THAT REFUSES TO BE STOPPED BY FLOODS
The boat school has become a heartwarming example of the determination of both teachers and students to continue education despite the floods. While the disaster has cut off the usual routes to schools and coaching centres, it has not stopped children from learning.
For Mohammad Saheb, the boat has simply become another classroom, allowing him to continue teaching even as the village remains surrounded by floodwater.
Circumstances may block the usual path, but finding a way forward despite obstacles remains a triumph. In flood-hit Raghunathpur, both the teacher and his students are demonstrating that determination to learn can survive even the most difficult circumstances.
(Inputs from reporter Bipul Rahul)
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