Empty seats as schools reopen in Venezuela’s quake-hit La Guaira
Schools in Venezuela’s quake-hit coastal state of La Guaira were largely deserted on Tuesday, a day after the new school year began, as many parents kept their children at home for fear of further earthquakes.
La Guaira, located north of the capital Caracas, was devastated by two powerful earthquakes on June 24 that killed more than 6,500 people.
Dozens of schools were damaged in the disaster, while 60 others were converted into shelters for thousands of people who lost their homes.
In some areas, classes are being held under temporary tents.
At one tented school, a teacher held a discussion with 14 students about managing their emotions after the earthquake.
The teacher, María Herrera, said the children remained sensitive to the disaster and frequently talked about what they had experienced.
At the John Paul II Diocesan Educational Unit in La Guaira, slightly more than 300 students enrolled for the new school year, although the school has capacity for more than twice that number.
Only seven children attended classes on Tuesday.
School principal Marco Antonio Espinoza said the return to classes would be gradual and safe, with particular attention to the emotional well-being of students and staff.
A fifth-grade teacher, Yanet Dominguez, said many parents had asked whether the school building was structurally safe following the earthquakes.
However, some parents have chosen to send their children back to school, saying they must learn to live with the new reality and allow normal life to continue.
Tags:
Share:
Related Post
