Some schools in Yanggang Province’s city of Hyesan have recently suspended classes so that students can collect firewood for the winter, Daily NK has learned.
“Some schools in Hyesan recently sent students to rural areas in Gapsan and Pungso Country to collect firewood,” a source in Yanggang Province told Daily NK on Nov. 3, speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons. “Winter is approaching fast, so the schools have resorted to these kinds of measures because they haven’t built up a sufficient stock of firewood yet.”
North Korean schools have long required students to prepare firewood or contribute money to purchase wood for heating. However, very few students have been able to offer firewood or money due to this year’s economic difficulties, and schools have struggled to prepare enough firewood for the winter.
Daily NK reported in October that Hyesan schools ordered students to contribute firewood or an equivalent sum of money if they did not have the firewood, but most students were not able to meet these demands.
Therefore, some Hyesan schools have resorted to suspending classes and forcing students to the countryside to cut firewood themselves.
“If schools can’t prepare enough firewood, classes will have to be suspended during the winter. The school principals will face full responsibility for the suspension of classes, which might result in their dismissal or severe punishment,” the source said. “That’s why all school principals are so keen about preparations for the winter.
“Usually, winter preparations are completed by October, but this year, there are so many schools that haven’t been able to finish yet. That’s why they’ve made decisions to suspend classes and make students prepare firewood. There aren’t many trees in the city, so they’ve had to send their students to the countryside.”
The source also told Daily NK that schools have developed different strategies for students to collect firewood. Some schools have suspended all classes for a week, while others are having certain grades head to rural areas in turns.
One middle school in Hyesan sent Grade 1 students to collect firewood for one week before sending Grade 2 students to collect firewood the following week.
“The students have to transport the firewood back from the countryside on their own, using their backpack straps or rope to carry the firewood on their backs,” the source said. “The drivers of ox-carts and cars that travel between the city and the countryside feel so sorry for the students that they’re helping the children transport the wood if they can.
“Parents are feeling extremely guilty that their inadequacy as parents is making their children suffer, and they’re lamenting the fact that they have to send their precious children to the countryside to cut wood. But no matter how hard they try, there’s nowhere they can get any more money, so they can only watch in silent frustration as their children go to collect wood.”
In the meantime, elementary schools unable to send their young students to cut wood have held meetings with parents to discuss heating preparations for the winter.
“Winter is coming soon, and we need heating in less than two weeks, but we have no firewood to use,” officials at one school told parents, according to the source. “We ask that you obtain firewood for the children by whatever means possible, even if you have to go to the countryside yourselves and cut wood for the children.”
“It’s rare for urban schools to send students to rural areas to cut wood,” the source said. “This shows a glimpse of how difficult life is for everyone right now.”
Translated by Annie Eun Jung Kim. Edited by Robert Lauler.
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