In the heart of Mandalay, Myanmar’s largest Chinese-language school, Mandalay Confucius School, has long been a beacon of education for over 3,000 students, nurturing generations from kindergarten to high school. But when a powerful earthquake struck in late March, the school’s four campuses were left in ruins, their classrooms reduced to rubble. With the June school term fast approaching, the prospect of thousands of children missing out on their education became a harsh reality.

A Race Against Time

The 2025 Myanmar earthquake, which struck on March 28, left Mandalay Confucius School’s buildings severely damaged. As the days ticked down to the new school year, the school administration searched desperately for solutions. “With most of our classrooms collapsed, how could we possibly start classes on time?” was the question on everyone’s mind.

In this moment of uncertainty, hope arrived in the form of a rapidly constructed, temporary classroom—an “easy-build house” designed to accommodate 30 students. The new classroom, equipped with lighting and fans, was ready for use in just a few weeks, ensuring that children would not miss out on their studies.

To ensure students could safely return to class before the June 2 school reopening, an emergency classroom construction project was quickly launched. Construction progress of the temporary classroom at the school’s South Campus. | Myanmar | 2025/05/27 |

Adapting to Every Challenge

Each of the school’s four campuses faced unique challenges. “Every location is different in size and layout, so we had to adapt our approach for each one,” explained local volunteer Szu-Lang Wen (溫斯郎). In the aftermath of the disaster, building materials were scarce, and every step—from sourcing supplies to assembling the classrooms—required creativity and determination.

The process was a true community effort. Volunteers from Malaysia joined local teams, handling everything from selecting materials and translating instructions to cutting, assembling, and sharing their experience with local builders.

Teachers and students from the school’s East Campus picked up paint rollers and joined Tzu Chi volunteers to help paint the exterior walls of the new temporary classroom. | Photo: Tzu Chi Foundation | Myanmar | 2025/05/19

For Hong-Chang Du (杜鴻昌), the school’s principal, the new classroom represents more than just a physical space. “Everyone can see our classrooms have collapsed,” he said. “With these temporary classrooms, we can start teaching again. I hope that, beyond this, we can continue to rebuild and give our children a safe place to learn.”

A Foundation for Tomorrow

From the initial design to the final screw, every detail of the new classroom was carefully considered to ensure safety, durability, and comfort. While the technology could have allowed for larger or more elaborate structures, the focus remained on what mattered most: getting children back to school quickly and safely.

As the new term begins, the sight of students returning to their desks brings a sense of normalcy and hope to a community still recovering from disaster. The temporary classroom is more than just a shelter—it is a promise that, even in the face of adversity, the seeds of education and hope will continue to grow.

Written by Yi-Ting Wang (王藝婷).

Source: 六月開學在即 援建曼德勒孔教學校簡易教室