Rescue & Aid
Classes resume in prefab house
(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-04-19 07:48
 |
Large Medium Small |
|
|
YUSHU, Qinghai - School has resumed in prefab housing for heart-broken children in earthquake-ravaged Yushu.
Officials said more schools would join the Yushu School for Orphans in resuming classes.
Another primary school and a vocational school were expected to start classes on Sunday and Monday, said Jia Yingzhong, Party chief of Yushu prefecture.
"We are working to ensure that all schools can resume classes before the end of this month," he said.
Classes stopped after a 7.1 magnitude quake struck Yushu early last Wednesday, toppling most houses in the mountainous Gyegu town.
Sitting in new chairs, behind new desks in a new prefab classroom, seventh-grade students started their Tibetan language and literature classes.
Five prefab houses, donated by the China Youth Development Foundation, serve as classrooms, while one is reserved as a dining hall.
On Saturday, it took only half a day for construction workers and People's Liberation Army soldiers to set up the prefab houses, which can each accommodate 40 students.
"The soldiers came here to give us food and put up tents for us. We did not suffer from any hunger or cold," said seventh grader Yeshe Yogjig.
"The quake destroyed our classrooms, but we are not afraid," she said, adding that she was excited to be back in the classroom, learning once again.
Located in Gyegu town in the Tibetan autonomous prefecture of Yushu in Qinghai province, the school has an enrolment of 165 students, all orphans, ranging from first through ninth grades.
A teacher and a member of the school's logistics staff were killed in last week's quake.
Classroom and dormitory buildings collapsed during the quake, but fortunately no students were killed. Most of the students were having breakfast in the dining hall at the time. Six were in their dormitory rooms, all of whom were rescued.
After the quake, about 100 students were taken home by relatives and the others spent three days in tents with their teachers.
Local officials joined the students and teachers on their first day back on campus.
Qiang Wei, Party secretary of Qinghai, told the students he was happy to see them returning to classes three days after the disaster.
He was joined by Qinghai Governor Luo Huining, who told the students: "A safer and better campus will soon be built. You're the hope and future for Yushu. I hope you will make full use of what you have and become the leading players in building the Tibetan area in the future."
Taiwan will also be sending aid to the region. The Taiwan-based Eden Social Welfare Foundation on Friday pledged to raise a total of $638,000 to reconstruct the school.
"Desks, chairs and coats will also be sent to the quake area. We're calling for psychological professionals to head to the area for consultations," Zhu Yongxiang, a director with the organization, was quoted by Taiwan media as saying.
The organization previously arranged for over 100 volunteers to help at the school, starting in 2007. Close ties have since been formed between volunteers in Taiwan and students in Yushu.
