Hundreds of pupils and teachers from Tai Po Baptist Public School have been unable to return to their campus after a fierce level-five fire ripped through the neighboring Wang Fuk Court estate, forcing the school to move lessons to several temporary sites, including local schools, the Education University of Hong Kong, and City University of Hong Kong.
The school remains closed following the major blaze, and staff and students have been dispersed across different venues in the district as well as the two universities.
At the Education University of Hong Kong campus, a temporary support center has been set up to provide classrooms, emotional counseling and volunteer teachers.
Parts of the indoor sports hall have been divided into teaching areas, while some classes are being held outdoors in the ecological garden.
Clinical psychologists from the university have begun offering stepped trauma support to the children.
After initial screening, more than forty students were found to be showing stronger emotional reactions to the fire, with over ten of them requiring ongoing follow-up from school social workers.
Psychologists say almost all of the children have been affected to some degree. Many feel sad, have nightmares or draw pictures of the burning building and firefighters at the scene.
These responses are considered normal in the immediate aftermath of such a traumatic event and usually fade with appropriate support.
However, any child whose symptoms persist beyond two to four weeks will receive closer attention and further help.
