Students of Char Karfarma Government Primary School in Galachipa upazila of Patuakhali have to swim across as many as five canals to attend classes, leaving many soaked by the time they reach school and some reluctant to attend.

More than 50 students live on the remote char, where there are no roads or regular boat services. During the monsoon, tidal water makes the journey even more difficult.

Around 80 fishing and farming families live on Char Karfarma, surrounded by the Agunmukha, Rabnabad and Tentulia rivers and a mangrove forest.

Established in 2014, the school has 51 students, 26 boys and 25 girls, and three teachers.

To reach the char, people travel about eight kilometres south of Galachipa to Boalia sluice gate and then walk about half a kilometre to a ghat on the Agunmukha river.

Ferries and fishermen’s boats are the only means of crossing the river, often forcing teachers and residents to wait for hours.

After reaching Karfarma Ghat, students have to cross several canals on foot or by swimming to reach the school.

Md Jahirul Islam, a class II student, said he swims across five canals every day with seven or eight other children.

“When it rains heavily, our books and notebooks also get wet,” he said.

Yasin, a class I student, said he often stays home for several days after falling ill from exposure to rain and canal water.

“We have a boat, but it is used for fishing. So, I have to swim across the canals to come to school,” he said.

Md Nesar Uddin, acting headteacher, said attendance would increase if roads were built.

Shahida Begum, former president of the school management committee, said she donated land for the school, but there was no government funding for roads.

Sadar Union Parishad Chairman Md Jahangir Hossain Tutu said there was currently no allocation for a road.

“Once funds are allocated, we will take steps to construct a road,” he said.

Md Golam Sagir, upazila primary education officer, said enrolment had declined because of the lack of road access. He said he would inform the upazila nirbahi officer and take necessary steps.

UNO Abuzar Md Ejazul Haque said necessary steps would be taken following a visit to the area.