At least 10.000 educational institutions have so far been affected by the ongoing floods, and damage to the infrastructure has been estimated at Tk 650 crore, reports BSS.

The government has sought Tk 340 crore as emergency relief from donor countries and agencies to recover initially from the losses in the country's education sector.

According to a primary assessment conducted by the Education Ministry across the country. 8,000 primary schools and 1758 secondary schools, colleges and madrassahs have been affected by flood waters. Of the total affected primary schools. 3,000 were fully damaged and infrastructures of the rest 5,000 were partially affected.

The preliminary assessment was made on the basis of reports from the district education offices. Education Ministry sources said. Earlier the district offices were asked to submit their reports on damage and other losses to the ministry.

A full assessment of the damage to educational institutions will be made when the flood waters recede, sources added.

The United Nations in its recent proposal for emergency relief in support of the government of Bangladesh. said 80 per cent schools nave been damaged and the remaining 20 per cent

were now being used as flood shelters in 47 flood-affected districts.

Most of the school and college premises of the country's central part were inundated by flood waters and text books and other classroom materials have been destroyed, the district education offices informed the ministry.

The Education Ministry at a meeting recently with Education Minister SAHK Sadeq in the chair, reviewed the situation of the flood-affected educational institutions.

The government will undertake immediate repairs on the basis of existing preliminary estimates of damage and a massive rehabilitation programme of the institutions will be taken •in the affected districts.