Floating Schools: Bringing a Classroom to the Tides in Bangladesh
Picture a cramped fishing village where the nearest school is a sumo match away—both physically and in terms of cost—because floods swoop in out of nowhere and wash the roads away. In that setting, Mosammat Rekha and her cousins struggled to dream about a future where reading and writing weren’t a luxury.
When the Water Rises, the Kids Stay Engaged
Enter the “floating school”—a boat turned classroom that glides down the Chalan Beel’s flooded waters. Mosammat, a bright‑-eyed seven‑year‑old, told AFP that her lessons stay on track even when her own house is just above water. “We can attend classes even during the rainy season, when our homes are barely above water,” she said, holding a notebook on the deck of the vessel.
Bangladesh at the Edge of the Climate Clock
The United Nations has named Bangladesh one of the world’s most vulnerable countries to a warming planet, with 20 million residents potentially becoming “climate refugees” by the end of this century. Rivers like the Padma are eroding shores at an alarming pace—up to 5 m of land can disappear in a single day, devouring homes, cowsheds, and entire neighborhoods.
Flood‑Sinks and Rising Seas
Villagers in Kalidaskhali already feel the tug of a shifting riverbank. “Today, my backyard is gone. I had a cowshed over there… now it’s just water,” lamented Rukaiya Khatun. River erosion is now firing on all cylinders, thanks to erratic monsoon rains and Himalayan glaciers that’ve melted faster than a warm mug of cocoa.
Innovation Hits the Waterway
On a brighter note, Bangladeshi ingenuity is splashing onto the scene. A team at BRAC University rolled out a floating bamboo home prototype last month—designed to survive floods or be transported to safer waters.
Floating Schools on the Move
Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha, a charity led by Mohammad Rezwan, has launched 20+ floating schools across Chalan Beel. These floating classrooms vary from simple setups with desks and blackboards to full‑on two‑storey structures that include sliding decks, monkey bars, and even swings. Solar panels keep the laptops humming, while a rainy‑night workshop teaches adults how to grow flood‑resistant crops on floating seed beds.
Government Backing
The Bangladesh Climate Change Trust has earmarked over US$400 million for projects like flood embankments, floating farms, and portable water purifiers. “It shows how seriously we’re taking this,” said Mukhlesur Rahman Sarker, the trust’s deputy chief.
Hope on the Horizon
For Mosammat Jharna, a mother who once had to wade through water to reach the nearest elementary school, the floating classroom feels like a lifeline. “My dream of educating my children, including my daughter, has come true,” she said, her eyes shining with gratitude. “I don’t want them to end up illiterate like me.”
In a country where the river’s grip tightens by the minute, this blend of floating infrastructure, solar power, and community education is not just a clever hack—it’s a lifeline that keeps children learning instead of drifting away into the tide.
