The European Union (EU) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) have started construction of transitional learning centres (TLCs) in nine earthquake-affected districts.

According to a joint press release by the EU and Unicef, 650 TLCs in the quake-affected districts in collaboration with the Department of Education.

Amidst a ceremony held at Shreepur Chhatiwan Village Development Committee (VDC) in Makwanpur District, Andreas Roettger, Head of Cooperation at Delegation of the European Union to Nepal, broke the ground of the first of these transitional learning centres on Sunday, said the release.

“These transitional learning centres will provide a better environment for teaching and learning for students and school teachers,” Roettger has been quoted as saying in the statement. “At the same time, it will impart the need for safer learning spaces, and raise awareness in the communities for better disaster preparation in the future.”

 The project worth 4 million Euro will assist in constructing transitional learning

centres in Gorkha, Kavrepalanchok, Makwanpur, Nuwakot, Okhaldhunga, Ramechhap, Rasuwa, Sindhuli and Sindhupalchowk in collaboration with the Government and partners, as well as equipping them with educational materials.

“Following the devastating earthquakes last year that destroyed or severely damaged over 35,000 classrooms, tremendous amount of effort was made to bring children back to school as soon as possible to minimise disruption of their education by establishing temporary learning centres,” said Tomoo Hozumi, Unicef Representative to Nepal. “In view of the continuing need for vigilance and preparedness for disasters in the country, we need to ensure safe learning spaces for children.  The initiation of this new construction project by the Government of Nepal, EU and UNICEF will further enable us to support the national education system to build back better.”