STORY: New school semester kicks off in China's flood-ravaged regions
DATELINE: Sept. 1, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:32
LOCATION: Beijing
CATEGORY: EDUCATION

SHOTLIST:
1. various of students
2. various of flood-hit places in China
3. various of students
4. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): ZHOU WENHONG, Parent
5. various of Shuangta Middle School
6. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): WEI CHANGCHUN, Principal of Shuangta Middle School
7. various of Shulan City in northeast China's Jilin Province
8. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): ZHAN YONGGANG, Principal of Qingsong Central School
9. various of Qingsong Central School

STORYLINE:

Primary and middle schools in areas impacted by the recent flooding disasters in China have started the fall semester as scheduled.

Heavy floods triggered by two typhoons swept across large swathes of China this summer, resulting in serious casualties and significant damage to properties, public infrastructure and crops.

According to the Beijing Municipal Education Commission, there were 275 flood-ravaged schools and kindergartens in Mentougou, Fangshan and Changping districts of Beijing.

Except for nine still in need of reconstruction, all the schools had been disinfected and had school building safety evaluated before the new semester opened on Friday.

Heishan Primary School in Mentougou District started classes in a neighboring middle school, as the former suffered severe damage during the flood and has not yet been fully repaired.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): ZHOU WENHONG, Parent
"I came with my child and I felt really good. This school is only about 400 to 500 meters away from Heishan Primary School, and its campus is very nice."

In neighboring Hebei Province, flood-hit places have managed to ensure students return to school as scheduled.

Shuangta Middle School in Zhuozhou City, one of the worst-affected areas in Hebei, was severely damaged during the summer flood.

Through the joint efforts of school faculty and volunteers, students have resumed classes.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): WEI CHANGCHUN, Principal of Shuangta Middle School
"We had finished clearing mud and debris on campus by Aug. 15, and completed the installation, update, and debugging of various equipment by Aug. 28. Students in Grade 8 and Grade 9 returned to school on Aug. 31, and students in Grade 7 started their new semester on Sept. 1."

Shulan City in northeast China's Jilin Province was one of the worst hit by heavy rainfall caused by Typhoon Khanun in early August.

The new semester started as early as Aug. 20 in the city, when all 55 public primary and secondary schools and kindergartens resumed classes on time, after swift post-disaster reconstruction.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): ZHAN YONGGANG, Principal of Qingsong Central School
"After students returned to school, we further cleaned the classrooms and campus. Our new semester started on Aug. 21 as scheduled."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beijing.
(XHTV)