We have all observed children attending school in their perfectly fitted uniform, however the case is not the same for some students in Banke. On a scorching Friday midday, a group of students were returning home to Narainapur, through the Nepalgunj Suiya highway. The group consisted of 15 students, among which eight of them had no footwear. Whereas, others only wore simple slippers.

Madrasa Arabia Gulshan Waris, Islamic school is located in Narainipur–4 is currently facilitating 25 students in child development class. Among which the majority of them don’t have shoes or slippers. As the school is located in Banke, Nepal which goes above 40-degree celsius in summer. Students have reported that attending school at 8am in the morning doesn’t create much trouble but returning home at 12pm with scorching heat and blazing hot air that starts from 10am on hot asphalt roads burns their feet. A student attending the school said to have never worn any kind of footwear. 

As the group of students were walking in a hurry, amongst them a teacher Preetikumari Baniya said it’s just because the students don’t have any kind of shoes or slippers.

Most of the parents cannot afford any kind of shoes here, as half of the students don’t have one, said Baniya. As the school is located around 500 meters away from Narainapur and Nausahara, students have to walk across the highway or fields, which makes their life more burdensome. The principal of the school, Abdul Rahaman said “There is extreme poverty here”, and added how the school keeps requesting the students and parents with no avail, and suspects whether the lack of footwear is caused by poverty.

The fear of getting their belongings stolen is also a reason for children to attend school barefoot.  With some parents not providing one after it got stolen. The principal compares how while in other schools children are penalized for wearing improper uniforms, teachers here are powerless to do anything about the situation.

According to Rahaman the school was established in 1979, however still lacking any benches or desks due to lack of funds, forcing students to sit on carpets. Rahaman expressed his sadness for lack of any help received and limited services the school is able to provide.

However, the local municipality has been supplying the school with a constant flow of educational materials. The school Madarasa provides education up to fourth grade and hosts 220 students.