Almost 700 teenagers in the quake-hit Ning'er county in southwest China started their all-important matriculation exams in tents on Thursday.

 

Eighty tents were set out in rows on the grounds of Pu'er High School for the 679 students, who were joining nearly 10 million others nationwide, in the examination, which began at 9:00 AM.

 

The county in Yunnan Province was struck by a strong earthquake on Sunday, which left three dead and nearly 300 injured, and 186,000 people homeless.

 

Xu Huaming, the county education bureau chief, said the county only has one high school which is the matriculation venue every year.

 

"The classrooms are suitable for the students as the buildings are solid enough. The aftershocks are estimated at below five on Richter scale and will end within three days, but we believe we must ensure 100 percent safety for our students," said Xu.

 

The county had recorded 1,422 aftershocks by Wednesday.

 

Exam proctors this year have learned new measures to handle emergencies, including first-aid and evacuation procedures.

 

"I felt easier after receiving my exam pass cards on Tuesday night," said Ou Lun as she came to sit the exam on Thursday.

 

The earthquake was the most serious in Yunnan since 2001.

 

Some 9.5 million Chinese students are sitting this year's national college entrance exam, competing for 5.67 million college places.

 

(Xinhua News Agency June 7, 2007)