Special report: Strong Earthquake Jolts SW China

Students have their class in a tent classroom in Mianyang city, after having evacuated from quake-hit Beichuan county, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 19, 2008. The first batch of tent classrooms have been set up in the worst-hit quake areas including Mianyang and Deyang cities. Psychological counselling is the major theme in the classes.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The first batch of tent classrooms have been set up in the worst-hit quake zones including Mianyang and Deyang cities in southwest China's Sichuan Province, the Ministry of Education said here Monday.

    At present, psychological counseling was the major theme in the classes.

    The initial 300 special tents have been sent to the quake-hit areas to serve as classrooms for middle school and primary school students including children orphaned in the quake, who had been transferred to safe areas, according to the ministry.

    More tents could be expected, the ministry said, as it aimed to set up such classrooms in "all quake-affected areas."

    The ministry's publishing houses presented 5,500 students with new textbooks and stationery on Monday.

    And a pamphlet that aimed to help the traumatized students in the quake is expected to be delivered to every quake-affected student before June 1, the ministry said.

    The death toll in the 8-magnitude earthquake rose to 34,073 as of Monday noon, with another 245,108 people injured, according to the earthquake relief headquarters of the State Council.

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