Nepal

Earthquake-hit schools still in ruins

Earthquake-hit schools still in ruins

By Himalayan News Service

A temporary learning centre of Mahendrodaya Secondary School, in Mulpani VDC, Dhading, on Monday, April 26, 2016. Photo: THT

Dhading, April 25 Most of the school buildings destroyed by last year’s devastating earthquake have yet to be reconstructed in Dhading. District Education Officer Renuka Pandey said 2,746 classrooms out of 5,373 classrooms of 587 schools were completely damaged. Pandey said the remaining classrooms suffered partial damage and were not fit for teaching-learning activities. The quake had killed six teachers in the district. *After the quake, temporary learning centres were constructed with support from donor agencies to resume regular classes. As many as 12 organisations were handed the responsibility for construction of temporary learning centres. The district is home to 378 primary, 80 lower secondary, 77 secondary, 49 higher secondary schools and 13 community/public campuses. Educational institutions, both public and private, of the district have been faring badly after last year’s disaster. Locals said reconstruction of school structures was delayed due to manpower crunch after the quake victims from northern parts of the district started moving to headquarters Dhadingbesi and Salyantar VDC.