JINHA

KOBANÊ – Kobanê has opened its first primary school since the city center was liberated, with 10 teachers working to educate 250 children of the families returning to the devastated city.

The YPG/YPJ played a leading role in opening the school, which now serves the thousands of Kobanê residents who have started returning to the city since its liberation in January. In a city nearly razed by the Daesh attacks, communal effort and struggle has been the only way for the people of Kobanê to meet their needs—now including the educational needs of children.

The new Şehit Osman Primary School is serving 250 children in eight classrooms with educational materials gathered from the ruins of the city. Children from seven to 10 years of age attend school in the morning, children from 11 to 15 in the afternoon. Classes begin every day with the Kurdish national anthem, "Ey Reqîp." All children have classes on environment, mathematics, physical education, music and Kurdish. The older students also learn Arabic and English.

Ruken Muhammed, one of the school's 10 teachers, says educational institutions face a range of challenges in the wake of the Daesh attacks.

"These children have been badly affected psychologically by the war," she said. "We reopened the school with what resources we have so that these children could live their lives again and could return to school after not being able to have education." She said that resources were limited, particularly educational materials.

"We're waiting for the aid of any institutions, foundations and people so that the children of Kobanê don't have to grow up with the psychology of war, but with the education they should have," said Ruken.

(ekip/zd/mg/cm)