The earthquake, closed most schools in the region. Now classes have resumed in at least one tent school. Many of the children coming to class in Dujiangyan were also left homeless by the quake. So the tent school is also their temporary home.
This is the playground of the Haihong Primary School in Xiang'e County, Dujiangyan city. Now it is serving as the classroom for these students. After the quake, the school erected a tent to serve as a classroom. About fifty students have come here to study for three days.
Huo Tianxue, Headmaster of Haihong Primary School said "Some of them are students from our school. Some come from a nearby village. Others are now orphans. We brought them here for their safety but also to help them continue their studies."
There are six teachers here. The students are at different grade levels. Teachers are instructing them separately.
One student said "Although we can not study in the classroom, we will study hard in this tent school."
The tent is not just the classroom for these students, it is also their home for now. Food is provided-- rice, vegetables, meat and soup. After lunch, the children take a rest break in the tent.
Another student said "It's comfortable here, the teachers take good care of us."
With efforts like this, coming from so many parts of society, it will not be long before these students are back in homes of their own studying in new classrooms.
(CCTV May 21, 2008)
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