PAKISTAN / FLOODS PUNJAB TRANSITIONAL SCHOOLS

UNICEF and partners are constructing 500 transitional school structures in Pakistan's Muzzafargarh district. The floods that hit Pakistan last year took a terrible toll on the country, affecting almost 20 million people. Children's education was badly hit, with more than 10,000 schools damaged. UNICEF

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:36
• Production Date: 29 July 2011
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND - UNICEF
• Subject Topical: HUMANITARIAN RELIEF; REFUGEES; DISPLACED PERSONS; DISASTER PREVENTION; DISASTER PREPAREDNESS; DISASTER RELIEF
• Geographic Subject: PAKISTAN
• MAMS Id: U110729f

Description

STORY: PAKISTAN / FLOODS PUNJAB TRANSITIONAL SCHOOLS
TRT: 2:36
SOURCE: UNICEF
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: URDU / NATS

DATELINE: 30 JUNE 2011, MUZAFFARGARH DISTRICT, SOUTHERN PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

Shotlist

1. Wide shot, house rebuilt in Mullanwala after the floods
2. Pan left, Shahbaz and his family sitting inside the house
3. Close up, Shahbaz breaking the chapatti (flat bread) with his hands to eat
4. Med shot, Shahbaz picks up his school bag from the hook
5. Wide shot, Shahbaz walks towards the Government Primary School
6. Med shot, Shahbaz walks into the classroom and shakes hands with the teacher
7. Med shot, Shahbaz sitting at his desk with his classmate and reading from his textbook
8. Close up, Shahbaz reading from his textbook
9. SOUNDBITE (Urdu) Shahbaz, 11 years old:
“Before the floods, I used to go to a one-room mosque school. When the floods hit, we moved to higher grounds in Muzaffargarh but we returned after water receded, we saw that our school had been destroyed. We then got a tent, books, bags and everything else to start our school. After that they made us this school building.”
10. Med shot, girls reading from their textbooks in the classroom
11. Close up, Shahbaz and his classmate read out loud from their textbooks
12. Med shot, boy reads out loud from his textbook
13. Med shot, Shahbaz drinks water from a pump installed for children at the school
14. Wide shot, children at swings
15. Close up, children on a slide at the playground, go down one by one
16. Med shot, children crowding a see-saw and playing
17. Med shot, boy on swing
18. Wide shot, children walking towards the school building with their school bags
19. SOUNDBITE (Urdu) Mukhtar Ahmed, Teacher:
“Ever since UNICEF has adopted this school, the number of students has rapidly increased. When people noticed that books, copies, bags and other facilities are given to children free of cost, the enrolment increased from 121 to 217. After this building was constructed, the number of students has risen to 361.”
20. Med shot, Shahbaz walking in the village
21. Med shot, Shahbaz stands up behind his desk in the classroom and reads out of his textbook
22. Close shot, Shahbaz looking down at his notebook and reading
23. Close shot, Shahbaz sitting behind his desk

Storyline

Brick by brick, this family in Pakistan’s Muzzafargarh district is slowly reconstructing their home and trying to rebuild their lives after last year’s floods ravaged everything they owned.

But for 11 year old Shahbaz, the flood waters that swept away his past also paved the way for a new journey.

Shahbaz is heading to school. This is first formal school he has ever attended.

He takes classes in the third grade at this Government Primary School supported by UNICEF.

It’s a new experience for Shahbaz and for most of the students from the Mullanwala village.

For the first time, they are studying in classrooms with their own books and stationery.

SOUNDBITE (Urdu) Shahbaz, 11 years old:
“Before the floods, I used to go to a one-room mosque school. When the floods hit, we moved to higher grounds in Muzaffargarh but we returned after water receded, we saw that our school had been destroyed. We then got a tent, books, bags and everything else to start our school. After that they made us this school building.”

As part of its response to the emergency in the region, UNICEF and its partners are constructing 500 transitional school structures like this one.

The school offers an improved learning space, furniture, basic sanitation facilities and playgrounds.

It follows the child friendly methodology making it a supportive environment where students are motivated to learn where teachers are welcoming and attend to their needs.

The success of the school is evident. Since the opening, there has been a sharp increase in attendance.

SOUNDBITE (Urdu) Mukhtar Ahmed, Teacher:
“Ever since UNICEF has adopted this school, the number of students has rapidly increased. When people noticed that books, copies, bags and other facilities are given to children free of cost, the enrolment increased from 121 to 217. After this building was constructed, the number of students has risen to 361.”

In a region torn apart by a tragedy of epic proportions, the road to recovery will be long one.

But for all these children, so eager to learn, this is a promising start and a reason to believe that the worst is over.