Flood-hit Beijing schools to start new semester as scheduled

Primary and middle schools in areas affected by recent flooding in Beijing will start the fall semester on Sept 1 as scheduled, local education authorities said.

A total of 170 schools in Fangshan district were damaged by floodwaters in late July and early August, when downpours brought by Typhoon Doksuri swept through the city, said Guo Donghong, director of the education commission of Fangshan district.

Guo said at a working conference of the Beijing Municipal Education Commission on Sunday that 32 schools were seriously damaged by deluges. After weeks of post-disaster recovery efforts, all schools have now been dredged and disinfected. The safety of houses has been assessed.

Students of schools that are unable to open on Sept 1 will be transferred to a nearby school temporarily, local authorities said.