Nepal, Sept. 9 -- Fourteen days after the Bhotekoshi flood devastated parts of Nepal, some of the worst-affected local units have resumed schools. Teaching and learning will continue in the existing structures and, where no school buildings remain, from temporary learning centres. The entire country has been maimed by the human and physical losses caused by the disaster, and the suffering in the worst-affected districts is beyond imagination.

Yet steps should be taken towards getting back to normalcy, adopting regular routines to the extent possible. Resuming schools is one such step. A report by the Ministry of Education shows that 22 schools in three districts have been affected, 12 of them completely destroyed. Thousands of schoolchil...