North Korean authorities are mobilizing students to prepare compost at the end of this year as well. Because of this, many students are forced to produce compost in cold weather.
According to Daily NK’s North Hamgyong Province source on the 31st, the compost battle has begun nationwide since the beginning of this month.
North Korean authorities carry out the task of transferring compost collected by each organization to the farm on January 3 every year, and for this purpose, compost collection is carried out in December.
In the ‘compost battle’, not only adults from various organizations such as enterprises, institutions, and people’s units, but also students from elementary and advanced middle schools (equivalent to middle and high schools) are mobilized.
The problem is that it is not easy to prepare the allocated compost because the amount of compost that must be prepared for each class ranges from tens to 100 kg.
Students in elementary and upper middle schools scoop up frozen human waste from school bathrooms and make compost, which is a harsh task for young students to handle.
To raise their quota, some students go around the neighborhood with shovels and buckets to collect feces from dogs and other livestock.
In this way, students collect human and animal waste and mix it with coal ash from the school classroom stove to make compost.
The compost production quota is determined by the number of students in the class, and the quota varies by region or school. In the Pohang district of Chongjin, elementary middle schools must prepare 50 kg of feces without coal ash per class, and advanced middle schools must prepare 70 kg.
In particular, since the compost prepared by each class is piled up on the playground, anyone can easily check how much compost has been collected by which class, making sure to meet the quota.
A source said, “When submitting waste paper or scrap metal, it is not easy to check which class has met the quota, so even if the quota is not met, if the homeroom teacher speaks well to the person in charge, the plan can be met, but compost is placed in the playground by the class. “Because we collect it separately, it cannot be disguised,” he said. “It is not at all easy to produce compost at school.”
Once the quota of compost has been prepared, it is each class’ responsibility to transport the compost to the farm. Parents’ help is essential when transporting compost to the playground, as a car is needed to transport tens of kg of compost.
The source said, “On January 3rd, it is difficult to use a car because not only students, but also all workers and housewives transport compost to the farm,” adding, “If they cannot use a car, students will have to use a guru cart carrying compost. “Because they have to drag a cart and walk for an hour or two, homeroom teachers are jealous of classes that transport compost with the help of parents,” he said.
When the compost prepared in this way is transported to the farm, the farm issues a certificate for each class. When this is submitted to the school, the principal collects it and reports it to the higher level.
As the end of the year approaches, North Korea’s elementary and middle schools are engaged in the ‘final charge’ of the compost battle. “The playground is full of compost heaps, and each pile has a sign indicating the class,” the source said. “The entire school is filled with the smell of compost, so we can’t do anything.”
Source: www.dailynk.com
