"The cold weather has arrived. It is extremely difficult to teach children who are sitting on cold floors," said Ansari, principal of Madarasa Darul Ulum in Ganeshpur. He added, however, that it was a relief to some extent to receive some carpets from non-governmental organizations (NGO).Altogether 220 students are studying at the madarasa from grades one to five. Of these, 35 are orphans. The school is conducting semi-annual exams at present.
"We have been laying out carpets on the floor but this is not enough to save the children from the cold," said Ansari.
The madarasa, where students are taught in Nepali, English, Urdu and Arabic, receives no regular grants from the government although the district education office (DEO) had decided to provide Rs. 168,000 annually, it is learnt.
The school finds it difficult to pay regular salaries to its five teachers, let alone manage the classrooms properly. While the government has made zero investment in physical infrastructure at the madarasa, some infrastructure has been built with around Rs. 400,000 provided by an UNESCO club in Banke.
The school doesn't have any alternative sources of funding, Ansari said.
The mercury has plunged in Nepalgunj in the last two days. According to the meteorological office, the minimum temperature in the area was 9 degrees Celsius and maximum 17.5 degrees on Monday.
Students at child development centers, madarasas and government and institutional schools are at risk from the cold not only while going to school and returning home but also in the classroom.
District Education Officer Bhim Bahadur Saud admitted that the school children are suffering because of the cold.
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