Two months after a powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Dingri County in Xizang Autonomous Region, thousands of students have returned to school to start the new semester.
The earthquake, which hit Dingri County—the home of Mount Qomolangma’s northern base camp—claimed 126 lives in January and caused significant damage to 79 schools in the area.
Thanks to speedy reconstruction efforts, 76 of these schools have been repaired and reinforced to meet safety standards. On Wednesday, students from these schools, along with others in the city of Xigaze, resumed classes as scheduled.
For the three primary schools in severely affected townships that require complete rebuilding, 1,479 students have been transferred to four temporary sites to continue their education.
“The county’s Party school is providing six classrooms to accommodate over 220 primary school students,” said Li Benfeng, deputy director of the education bureau in Dingri. “This allows them to start the semester on time.”
“Each of us was given not only new textbooks but also backpacks, bedding, and stationery,” shared Pasang Tsering, a grade-six student attending classes at one of the temporary sites.
Chimed, deputy director of the municipal education bureau of Xigaze, mentioned that teachers returned to school early to help with cleaning and preparations. “During the new semester, teachers will provide psychological support to help students overcome fear and anxiety caused by the earthquake,” she said.
On Monday, reconstruction efforts began in eight severely affected villages, aiming to relocate over 120,000 residents to new homes by the end of the year. The launch ceremony took place in Gurum Village of Dingri after more than a month of preparations, including debris clearance, risk assessments, and housing design.
The swift response and collective efforts showcase the resilience of the community as they rebuild their lives and look forward to a brighter future.
