Friday, September 2, 2011

02/09 Fukushima students back to school, with dosimeters

The Yomiuri Shimbun

FUKUSHIMA--The second term of the academic year began Thursday at most primary and middle schools in Fukushima, about a week later than usual due to work to remove radioactive substances from school buildings and yards.

Sixty-three of the 72 primary and middle schools in Fukushima held ceremonies Thursday morning to mark the start of the second term.

During the ceremony at the city-run Fukushima No. 4 Primary School, principal Manabu Tanno said to students, "Please study hard in the safe school buildings, where the radiation level has decreased."

Sixth-grade student Kozue Sato, 12, gave a speech on behalf of the school's 177 students. "We want the new term to be full of smiles, " she said.

The Fukushima city education board has decided to distribute dosimeters to about 26,300 students in the city to help monitor and limit their exposure to radiation. At the city-run No. 4 Primary School, dosimeters were given to all students after the opening ceremony.

According to the education board, the city's schools delayed the start of the second term from Aug. 25 to Sept. 1 due to decontamination operations. The schools will shorten their winter recess by about a week to make up for lost study time.

(Sep. 2, 2011)

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