Floating Schools in Bangladesh

BANGLADESH - 2014/11/10: A group of young school children are boarding the solar-powered boat school that is docked at the riverbank. Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha has developed solar-powered floating schools which park at the mainland to pick-up students. Each boat-classroom accommodates about 30 -35 students and come equipped with solar panels that power an internet-linked laptop, library and electronic resources, providing basic education for children under grade 5. Metal beams allow for column-free spaces, and the boats have flexible wooden floors, high ceilings and waterproof roofs outfitted with solar panels. These multilayered roofs can withstand heavy monsoon rains. The walls of the boat incline to the exterior that holds the curved roof, giving the boat a sculptural form. Viewed from the riverbank, the community members see the school boat as a river turtle. (Photo by Jonas Gratzer/LightRocket via Getty Images)