Nepal earthquakes: shattered schools remain closed – in pictures

In the wake of two devastating disasters, urgent action is needed to assess damaged buildings and allow children to resume their education, says UN report

  • Following two devastating earthquakes, urgent action is needed in Nepal to assess the damage to schools and provide temporary spaces for children to learn, according to a situation report by the United Nations (UN). Without it, at least 950,000 children in Nepal will be unable to return to school.

    Photo: Sukrawati school for lower secondary and early child care in Dolakha.
    Sukrawati School for lower secondary and ECCD in Dolakha

  • It was hoped that schools in Nepal would start re-opening today, but this has been deferred for two weeks following a second earthquake on Tuesday 12 May.

    Photo: Destroyed school in Bhotsipa, Sindhupalchok.
    Destroyed School in Bhotsipa, Sindhupalchowk

  • 28 million children across the world are out of education, whether that’s due to conflict, disaster or other factors. Despite this, in 2014 only 1% of humanitarian funding was spent on education and there is no mechanism to fund emergency measures to ensure that those who are worst affected get back into school as quickly as possible.

    Photo: Girls in front of their closed primary school in Makwanpur district.
    Girls in front of their closed primary school in Makwanpur District, one of Plan's response areas

  • Education campaign A World at School and Plan International are making a joint call to the international community to back a platform to ensure education in emergencies is prioritised and financially supported in the run up to the Oslo summit.

    Photo: Rubble in badly damaged primary school in Makwanpur district.
    Rubble in badly damaged primary school in Makwanpur District, one of Plan’s response areas

  • Sweta Shah, education in emergency specialist at Plan International, who is currently in Nepal, says: “Our experience shows that after a disaster strikes, education is vital. School is where children can get life-saving information. I have met many children who are distressed by what they have witnessed, and going to school is a welcome return to their normal routine.

    Photo: Kshamwati higher secondary school in Susma Chhemawati, Dolakha.
    Kshamwati Higher Secondary School in Susma Chhemawati, Dolakha

  • Jagat Thami, a father of two, says: “The primary school in the village collapsed and we can’t use it now. The children just play among themselves in the road. It would be helpful to have some spaces where they can go, but the school and the grounds are badly damaged so it’s not safe to play there or to go back to study.”

    Photo: Children play in the grounds of badly damaged Kshamwati higher secondary school in Susma Chhemawati, Dolakha.
    Children play in the grounds of badly damaged Kshamwati Higher Secondary School, in Susma Chhemawati, Dolakha

  • Sarah Brown, co-founder of A World at School, said: “We must ensure that an entire generation of children in Nepal do not pay the price because their education is neglected.”

    Photo: Sukrawati school for lower secondary and early child care in Dolakha.
    Sukrawati School for lower secondary and ECCD in Dolakha
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