Educational Crisis Persists in Barekot as Earthquake-Damaged Schools Remain Closed

In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that struck Barekot Rural Municipality in Jajarkot district on November 3, a staggering 44 schools are yet to resume operations, leaving over 9,800 students out of school.

The earthquake inflicted severe damage to the physical infrastructure of these schools, rendering them unsafe for use. Despite the absence of human casualties in Barekot, the epicenter of the quake, the structural integrity of the school buildings has become a major concern, as stated by Rural Municipality Chairman Bir Bahadur Giri.

Chairman Giri highlighted the severity of the situation, stating, “No school building is safe in Barekot,” emphasizing the urgent need for reconstruction efforts to enable the safe return of students to classrooms.

While schools in other localities have managed to reopen, the delay in establishing emergency learning centers has left students without access to education. The UNICEF has taken on the responsibility of constructing temporary buildings for schools in Barekot, acknowledging the critical role of education in the recovery process.

A comprehensive assessment revealed that a total of 317 classrooms across 44 schools in Barekot have suffered damage, with Chairman Giri noting that the devastation extends to 119 toilets. The gravity of the situation underscores the necessity of immediate action to rebuild and ensure the safety of educational facilities.

To address this crisis, Chairman Giri emphasized that the construction of 173 emergency learning centers is crucial for the resumption of regular classes. Until these centers are established, the educational landscape in Barekot remains in limbo, with students and educators grappling with the aftermath of the earthquake and the subsequent disruption to their academic pursuits. The community eagerly awaits the swift implementation of reconstruction initiatives to restore normalcy to the education sector in Barekot.