Thousands of Nepalese children return to school

Thousands of children affected by the devastating earthquake in Nepal on May 31 returned to school five weeks after the disaster.

Parents take their children back to school in Nepal (Reuters photo).

Reuters reported that children in uniforms, holding their parents' hands, walked through the rubble of collapsed buildings into tents and makeshift homes that serve as schools.

More than 32,000 classrooms were destroyed across Nepal after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck on April 25. Another 7.5-magnitude quake on May 12 also hampered reconstruction efforts.

"I feel worried. It's sad to see my classroom in ruins," said Shasham Shrestha, a high school student at Awas Kuleswor School in Kathmandu.

Shrestha and friends stand near the collapsed wall of a classroom as teachers ensure the safety of students to reassure parents.

Education Ministry official Hari Lamsal said opening schools was important to see life return to normal.

"We will build temporary learning centers for schools because rebuilding old buildings will take a long time," Lamsal said. On May 31, 137 learning centers opened across Nepal to welcome back more than 14,000 students.

Relief workers say more than 4,500 education centers need to be built to accommodate all the students who were in schools when the disaster struck.

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) estimates that nearly 1 million children in Nepal were severely affected by the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in April.

"Opening schools, even in temporary centres, has several benefits. It will provide psychological rehabilitation for children, protect them from violence, the risk of trafficking and their parents may have to go to work," said UNICEF representative in Nepal Tomoo Hozumi.

UNICEF estimates that $24.1 million is needed to build learning centers and train more than 19,000 teachers and volunteers to provide psychosocial support to children.

More than 8,600 Nepalese people were killed, countless houses and ancient structures were destroyed after the earthquake.

(According to Reuters/TTO)