Pupils at Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School in Nepal’s Nuwakot district have returned to lessons in temporary facilities after an Aug. 26 flood swept away the school.
UNICEF said it supported nine temporary learning centers, providing learning materials and water, sanitation and hygiene facilities. The National reported that classes resumed Sept. 21, with 1,621 pupils attending at a site it described as 20 tents and a sports academy.
The Associated Press (AP) reported that at least 900 of the school’s 1,643 students were on campus that morning. Principal Rajendra Dawadi directed pupils toward higher ground and told bus drivers not to bring more children, AP said.
The Government of Nepal said a major flood began along the Bhote Koshi River in Rasuwa on Aug. 26 and severely affected Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading and Gorkha districts.
The effects on children extend beyond disrupted schooling. UNICEF estimated Sept. 15 that 17,000 flood-affected children needed mental-health and psychosocial support, and said 541 unaccompanied or separated children faced heightened risk. Teacher Narayani Bogati told UNICEF that “the smallest things are causing fear and anxiety.” The organization said teachers used games and conversations about the flood alongside lessons to help pupils regain routine.
An Oct. 12 U.N. situation report cited Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) as reporting 1,455 deaths, 5,285 people missing and 13,795 rescued as of Oct. 3. The report said terrain and limited land availability made it difficult to identify safe sites for school reconstruction.
“People lost everything. But the children are still eager to study,” Dawadi told The National. The outlet reported that school authorities were still awaiting a site decision as of Oct. 23. Dawadi estimated rebuilding would take at least two years after land is assigned.
