UNICEF-supported school in Rudaki, Tajikistan, is ready for winter
RUDAKI, Tajikistan - 19 December, 2008 Head teacher Odinaeva Sitora says last winter was, “very difficult with extremely cold classrooms”, but she adds that while she hopes this winter will be milder, the school is much better prepared to deal with any eventuality thanks to its partnership with UNICEF. 11th grade student Kusravi Rahimbek, says “parents tried to do what they could last winter to heat the very cold classrooms, adding improvised insulation or installing crude stoves for heating, but nothing was effective”. He says things are much better now, and “this year it will be a big difference even if it gets cold again”. School no. 69 in Rudaki district, on the outskirts of the capital Dushanbe, is one of five schools that UNICEF has worked with during the year to improve classrooms. New floor and ceiling insulation was added, windows and doors were refurbished as a precaution after last winter saw record low temperatures disrupting regular classes. In all, five of 10 classrooms at the school of 500 students were completely renovated. UNICEF-funded improvements to the school in previous years included new toilets and clean water facilities, as well as a school library; part of UNICEF’s Child Friendly Schools programme. Teachers say the new water and sanitation facilities have eliminated outbreaks of typhoid at the school, adding that the community has even started to reproduce similar toilet facilities in homes after being inspired by their effectiveness.
The school has also been part of UNICEF’s Girl’s Education programme, conducted with Save the Children, which has seen all school dropouts return to the classroom as a range of new activities in music and sports were added, as well as important vocational training. Briefly interrupted in the Girl’s Education workshop, Nargisi Ashurali, aged 15, said: “It is very exciting to come to school now that there are interesting creative groups to participate in.” For more information, please contact: Parveena Muhammedkhajaeva
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