CRI听力：Students in China's Quake-Hit Regions to Start New Semester

Chinese education authorities say that primary and middle school students affected by the May 12 earthquake in and around Sichuan Province are ready to start their new semester in the same way as their peers across the country.

Yang Nianlu is a senior official with the Educational Ministry. He detailed the measures local governments have taken to ensure academic facilities are ready.

"The ministries of education and construction have jointly established the post-disaster evaluation standard for schools in the area. In addition, the construction of prefabricated houses will also ensure the new semester runs smoothly."

According to the official, the Chinese government has allocated nearly two and a half billion yuan, or nearly 330 million US dollars, to the quake-hit provinces of Sichuan, Gansu and Shaanxi to help reinforce school buildings and purchase educational equipment.

Xu Wentao is director of the education bureau in Sichuan.

"The primary issue in Sichuan is to get classrooms ready so school can resume. I'm very confident that this will be achieved quickly."(Www.hxen.net)

Official statistics show that about 85% of prefab houses with desks, chairs, blackboards and beds for students are ready in Sichuan. Other newly-built and existing schools are also ready to take students in Gansu and Shaanxi.

A number of teachers have received thorough psychological counseling, which may also ready them to return to the classroom.