Niamey, Niger - Recent Students in Niger have returned to school a month after the government postponed the start of the new school year due to heavy flooding in the country, which left several schools destroyed and forced others to be used as accommodation for displaced people. The new school year in Niger was scheduled to start on October 2, but heavy rains and devastating floods prevented schools from opening. Four weeks later, all schools have opened, ready to continue as per the academic calendar. Students were excited to to be back in class. At the Niamey Namo School, morning classes have already been scheduled, so that students can resume classes without further delays. The National Meteorological Agency has forecast good weather for the next two weeks, reassuring Nigeriens that the school year will proceed without major incidents. At the same time, all the schools that were previously occupied by flood victims have been once again available for students after being cleaned and repaired. Shotlist: Niamey, Niger - Recent: 1. Entrance to Niamey Namo School; 2. Signs on wall; 3. Various of students entering school; 4. Various of students looking at papers; 5. SOUNDBITE (French) Layla Seyni, student, Niamey Namo School (starting with shot 4/partially overlaid with shot 6): "I can't wait to go back to school, because staying at home is sometimes boring. I am really happy to come and meet friends. So I know that as soon as school starts, we're going to do something, given the timetable."; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 6. Students in classroom; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 7. SOUNDBITE (French) Djibril Amadou Foumakoye, student, Niamey Namo School (ending with shot 8): "This is really good news following a month's delay. But we're still going to do everything in our power to catch up."; 8. Students; 9. SOUNDBITE (French) Daouda Gnandou, student, Niamey Namo School: "Staying at home doing nothing is boring and lazy. Today, I am happy. I am excited. I met my friends, and I saw my class."; 10. Students; 11. Class in progress; 12. SOUNDBITE (French) Himadou Moussa, head, Niamey Namo School (starting with shot 11/partially overlaid with shot 13/ending with shot 14): "The children are already in class. The first two hours were devoted to reading school rules and regulations. In the third hour, the students started their classes. We are going to make the most of the vacation time. We will also use the evenings to make up for lost time, and maybe even holidays, especially for exam classes. They will be used to make up for lost time."; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 13. Students looking at papers; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 14. Teacher writing on blackboard; 15. SOUNDBITE (French) Nouhou Boubacar, teacher, Niamey Namo School (starting with shot 14/partially overlaid with shot 13/ending with shot 14): "I think it's not smooth for everyone. There is no disruption now, and education authorities can still honor their commitment to teachers so that the year will not be disruptions."; 16. Teacher giving notebook to student. [Restriction - No access Chinese mainland]