After the devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake in Nepal last April 25, schools reopened on Sunday, which is a working day in Nepal.
On the first day, students were encouraged to talk to their teachers about their experiences, and were given activities that will help them to overcome their trauma from the earthquake. Classes are held in temporary classrooms made of tents and bamboo makeshift cottages.
Saroj Bhakta Acharya, principal of the Adarsha Saula Yubak Higher secondary school in the small village of Khokana, told the children: "We will resume our school in this bamboo made hut so do not worry about the earthquake," he said. "We will spend a week, playing and talking about good things."
The students were not also required to wear their school uniform, The Guardian reported.
According to The New Daily, Yubraj Adhikar of the International Committee of the Red Cross said that the teachers must be alert to any behavioral changes.
"It is normal for children to act differently after such an experience, but we have to keep an eye out for any signs of long-term trauma in a child," Adhikar added.
The reopening was set earlier for May 17, but was delayed when a second major 7.4-magnitude quake occurred in the country on May 12.
According to a First Post, UNICEF said that 32,000 classrooms were destroyed and 15,352 classrooms were damaged after the two major earthquakes in Nepal. Around USD 24.1 million is needed to set up the learning centers and to train more than 19,000 teachers and volunteers on psychosocial support.
Over 100 temporary learning centers were built by the government and aid agencies for the millions of children affected by the earthquake.
By reopening schools, educators are hoping to bring back a sense of normalcy in the area, especially for young children.
