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Forty-two children whose parents were killed in a devastating earthquake in Jiashi and Bachu counties of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region last week will continue schooling in a week's time in Urumqi, the regional capital.
The orphans will resume education at the "Light of Knowledge" school, which is run by the Xinjiang Ethnic Group Education Foundation. Established in 2001, the school recruits children from poverty-stricken families in the region.
Man Su'er, an official with the foundation, said on hearing reports on Feb. 27 from the quake-hit areas that 42 children had lost their parents, the foundation immediately decided to welcome them into the school.
Man said the foundation would build a branch school in the quake-stricken areas if the number of orphans rose, or children who had lost a single parent or those who could not continue schooling because of poverty.
The foundation has established six "Light of Knowledge" schools in Urumqi, with more than 900 students from poor ethnic families.
It also plans to build a poverty elimination school in Urumqi designed to provide the nine-year compulsory education program for its students.
Construction of the poverty elimination school's main building will begin in April and is expected to be completed and in use by September.
(Xinhua News Agency March 4, 2003)
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