Schools in Yanggang Province’s city of Hyesan are demanding students contribute firewood or cash to purchase firewood to heat classrooms during the coming winter, Daily NK has learned.
Speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons, a source in Yanggang Province told Daily NK on Oct. 12 that “schools in Hyesan that have to find ways to get firewood on their own to heat classrooms in winter are pressing students to contribute firewood or cash [to purchase firewood].”
Schools in North Korea typically begin to prepare firewood for the winter in late September or early October. This year, schools have ordered students to contribute firewood by Oct. 10 — or Party Foundation Day — or money in lieu of kindling.
Students in rural counties head into the mountains themselves to cut down trees or collect branches, but in urban areas — where people have little choice but to purchase firewood at markets — students usually contribute cash or firewood bought at markets.
“A cubic meter of firewood now costs about KPW 130,000 in Hyesan’s markets,” the source said. “Because firewood grows more expensive as winter approaches, now is the best time to buy.”
Schools in the city’s urban areas are asking students who prefer cash contributions to pay KPW 130,000 for the purchase of firewood in markets.
However, as only a handful of students have handed over the firewood or cash, some schools have convened emergency meetings with parents to urge them to contribute quickly.
One teacher at an elementary school in Hyesan convened an emergency meeting with parents on Oct. 7.
“It’s been two weeks since we instructed students to contribute firewood, but nobody has handed over any except one or two people,” she told the assembled parents. “If we don’t prepare the firewood now, the students will have to study in freezing rooms in winter. No matter how hard things are for you, please help so our students can study in warm classrooms.”
Some of the parents complained, however, that they would contribute money if they had any on hand because “nobody wants their children to study in cold classrooms.”
Meanwhile, school administrators are worrying that they might have to close their facilities this winter because they cannot heat the classrooms.
“Everything here in North Korea is resolved through non-tax burdens placed on ordinary people, but the worsening of people’s finances is leading to increased difficulties,” the source said, referring to items, such as firewood or manure, that the government demands from its people. “The reality faced by people here is shown by the fact that parents have to contribute firewood if they don’t want students to have a tough time this winter.”
Translated by David Black. Edited by Robert Lauler.
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