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Transcript/ScriptSYRIA QUAKE EDUCATION
HEADLINE: Syrian Rebels Struggle to Rebuild Schools in Quake Aftermath
TEASER: Efforts aim to restore normalcy for children often too traumatized to return to
school
PUBLISHED AT: 03/15/2023, 12:49p
BYLINE: Dorian Jones
CONTRIBUTOR: Berke Bas editor DO NOT USE FOR SECURITY REASONS
DATELINE: Istanbul
VIDEOGRAPHER: Mouneb Taim, Moawia Atrash, Ahmad Fallaha
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: LR, Bowman
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA ORIGINAL
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __
TRT: 2:43
VID APPROVED BY: Reifenrath
TYPE: TVPKG
UPDATE: DO NOT USE BERKE BAS NAME FOR SECURITY REASONS))
((INTRO))
[[Syria’s rebel-controlled Idlib province, hit hard by February's quakes, is looking to
rebuild its shattered education infrastructure. Repairing and replacing destroyed schools
is only part of the problem, with many children traumatized. Dorian Jones reports from
Istanbul.]]
((NARRATOR))
Bashar Mustafa al-Hamada of Jindires’ education department surveys the damage at
one of the many schools hit hard by February's deadly earthquakes.
((Bashar Mustafa al-Hamada, Jindires Department of Education - male in Arabic))
“The devastating earthquake had a great impact on the town of Jindires, especially on
the education sector, with most schools out of service. We are now in front of the
destroyed Khaled Ibn Al-Walid School, the largest school in the countryside of Aleppo.
There were 3400 students and 120 teaching staff. The school principal, assistant
director, and many educational staff were killed.”
((NARRATOR))
Many school children are now living in tent camps, after their homes were destroyed.
Some are just too frightened to return to school.
Heba Assad says her children enjoyed school before the quake. Now she worries
whether her children will be able to go back.
((Heba Asaad, Quake Survivor - female in Arabic))
“Because of the earthquake, children became hysterical with fear, and my little son
became very afraid of our house and did not want to go home. He’s always on the
street, and even if schools opened, my son would not go to them because of the fear
that he has of buildings.”
((NARRATOR))
Heba's daughter, Nazli, also lives in fear.
((Nazli al-Asaad, Quake Survivor - female in Arabic))
“I can't go to school because the earthquake very badly damaged our school, killing
teachers and the principal. And we are afraid that buildings will fall on top of us inside
the schools. So, we don't have the courage to go to school.”
((NARRATOR))
According to authorities in Jindires, 22 schools were destroyed in a region already
reeling from years of civil war.
International support is helping to set up tent schools, which are not only cheap and
quick to erect but also offer a psychologically safe environment for the children still
fearful of going inside buildings.
[[RADIO VERSION: Professor Radwan Ahmed is the Jindires director of Education.]]
((Radwan Ahmed, Jindires Director of Education - male in Arabic))
We are currently working to secure tents at all our schools to complete the educational
process within the tents and work on children's psychological trauma. The priority is for
the city center because the largest number of students are in the city. We've already set
up tents in some schools, and we thank all those parties who are supporting us.
((NARRATOR))
Even before the quake, the Syrian rebel enclave struggled to provide education as it
dealt with acute shortages. Teaching children is exponentially more challenging today.
((Dorian Jones, for VOA News, Istanbul))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)
Istanbul
Embargo DateMarch 15, 2023 21:37 EDT
Byline
((Dorian Jones, for VOA News, Istanbul))
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English