After Yunnan quake, school classes resume

When an earthquake of magnitude 3.2 shook Yangbi Yi autonomous county of Dali Bai autonomous prefecture, Yunnan province, on May 18, all schools launched their emergency plans and evacuated students safely.

On Tuesday, ShangJie Wanquan Primary School in the county's Cangshanxi town resumed classes for Grade 6, becoming the first primary school in the disaster area to reopen after the quake.

Li Hexiang, a teacher in the school, encouraged students to keep learning. When a student was asked about the main feeling associated with the return to school, the answer was, "It's good to be alive."

On the first day of classes, the theme was earthquake safety. The vice-principal gave a lecture to all students, and then each of the class teachers talked to students separately in their own way. All covered knowledge of earthquakes, including methods of escape and self-protection.

Li Lan, the school's principal, said, "First, our teachers didn't panic, so our students didn't panic, either."

Senior three students at Yangbi No 1 High School also returned to classes.

"I was really scared when the earthquake occurred," said Chen Yiting, a student at the high school. "Fortunately, everyone was safe and no one was injured."

Chen and her classmates started life in tents at the school's playground the day after the earthquake. They prepared for the college entrance examination amid constant aftershocks.

"Mixing earthquake resistance with preparation for the exam was a struggle," Chen said.

Ma Shuangquan, the vice-principal, said a strong effort was made to provide security services.