A windstorm damaged an administration, three academic blocks and a dining hall at Daksa Primary School in Werringla in February this year. As an immediate relief, United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has provided eight sets of tent to the School.
It has helped the school in resuming the normal classes without any difficulties. And the school currently uses the tents as temporary classrooms and staff room.
Currently, students are seen doing their evening studies inside the temporary classrooms. The school’s Officiating Principal, Jamtsho said that it would take minimum of a month to construct a temporary classroom had there been no such immediate support from UNICEF.
“When windstorm damaged our school structures, we were worried that how we could continue our normal classes. But we got the tent within one day from the time of disaster and we managed to make the temporary classroom within three working days. So we managed to resume our classes within few days,” Jamtsho, the Officiating Principal of Daksa Primary School, said.
He also said that teachers don’t feel much inconvenience in taking classes inside the temporary classroom since all the basic facilities are put in place.
“We don’t feel much difference in taking class inside the normal classroom and temporary classroom. The classroom size is same as that of a normal classroom. And it can accommodate 18 students in each unit. So we don’t feel uncomfortable in taking classes inside the tent. We also feel that students are more interested to learn in such new environment,” he added.
Like normal classroom, electricity and fans are also connected in all the units of temporary classrooms and staff room. And some teachers said they don’t face many difficulties in carrying their normal routine.
“Amid the difficult situation, UNICEF Bhutan has provided us with disaster relief tents. So we could immediately move our things to new staff room. We could also continue taking our classes within three days with pride,” Jamyang Loday, a teacher, Said.
Some students also said that they are ever grateful to UNICEF for immediately providing such tents. So it has helped students to come to school without much problem.
“I was able to come to school and study every day. I also don’t have to study in rain and sun. So it has helped us a lot,” Tenzin Choden, Student, said.
Maintenance of damaged classrooms and staff room are underway and is expected to be complete by the end of next month.
Daksa Primary School is a remote school in Monggar. At present, there are six teachers and ninety-two students studying in the school.
