NW China quake-affected schools to resume class

A teacher introduces new textbooks to students in a prefab classroom in the Zhazha Primary School in Yongxing Village, Minxian County of northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 25, 2013. Altogether 230 schools damaged in the earthquake in Minxian County started to roll in students on Sunday, and the new term would start on Aug. 26. A 6.6-magnitude earthquake jolted juncture area of Minxian and Zhangxian counties on July 22, in which 230 schools in Minxian were damaged to different extent. (Xinhua/Zhang Meng)

All affected schools in earthquake-hit Minxian County of northwest China's Gansu Province will begin the autumn semester on schedule, said local authorities on Sunday.

As of Sunday, all the 230 affected schools started student enrollment for the new term, which will start on Monday, said the Education Bureau of Minxian County.

Government authorities and schools have adopted measures to ensure school safety by strengthening slightly-affected school buildings and accelerating the construction of new buildings, said Wang Dechen, director with the bureau.

The county has also prepared 35 fabricated board houses and 418 tents for school use.

Minxian was among the places worst hit by the 6.6-magnitude quake that killed at least 95 people on July 22.

About 15,000 students in the county were affected as the quake has affected 230 schools, 95 of which were seriously damaged.

The central and local governments have allotted disaster relief funds and teaching materials to the quake-affected region.