Heavy rains and flooding in Niger have forced schools to delay the start of the academic year by nearly a month, according to the Nigerien government.
During a council of ministers meeting, the government decided to postpone the school year to Oct 28 from the initially scheduled date of Oct 2.
So far, the devastation caused by severe flooding in many parts of the West African country is still visible in the capital Niamey. Few learning institutions were spared and even those that were left standing are being used to house those forced out of their homes by the deluge.
But many parents and teachers said the postponement of the new school year is no cause for alarm and warned that it is unwise to evict victims who have no other place to stay.
"After three months of vacation, the children will stay at home for another month or so. We don't usually leave children idle during the holidays. We take them to Quranic schools. So that's what we're going to do right now," said a parent.
The government said it is repairing the affected schools and stressed that all required steps must be taken before young learners can return to the classroom.
Flood-hit Niger delays schools reopening
Flood-hit Niger delays schools reopening
Flood-hit Niger delays schools reopening
Flood-hit Niger delays schools reopening
With the introduction of new real estate policies in China's four major cities, industry insiders believe that the measures taken by multiple departments will help boost market confidence and contribute to the recovery of the property market, with first-tier cities leading the trend.
In late September, major Chinese cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen introduced a new wave of real estate policy adjustments aimed at revitalizing the property market.
Starting October 1, Beijing introduced new property policies focused on easing purchase restrictions and increasing credit support. The minimum down payment for first-time home buyers has dropped from 20 percent to 15 percent, and from 30 percent to 20 percent for second homes - easing financial pressure and facilitating both first-time buyers and those looking to upgrade their homes.
Beijing’s real estate market has shown promising signs under these policy incentives. In the three days following the new policy release, the number of viewings for new homes in the Chinese capital increased by 92.5 percent compared to the same period last year, with purchase agreements doubling. Viewings for resale homes also rose by 104.1 percent year on year.
"Since the new policies came out, we've seen a rise in customer inquiries, whether they're looking to buy or sell a home. The number of customer viewings has also increased. Around 90 percent of them are looking to upgrade their homes. Some clients previously lacked confidence, but the new policy has made many feel that now is a good time to make a move," said Wu Bei, regional manager of Maitian Real Estate Agency.
In addition to Beijing, other first-tier cities such as Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou have introduced similar measures, including lower down payment requirements and eased district-specific purchase restrictions.
"As the new policies take effect, we expect a rise in visits to real estate agencies and property viewings after the National Day holiday. We also anticipate that property prices will soon stabilize across the country, driven by Beijing and other top-tier cities," said Zhao Qingxiang, secretary general of the Beijing Real Estate Agency Association.
According to the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, cities conducting promotional activities reported over a 50-percent year-on-year increase in visits to real estate projects during the week-long National Day holiday. Some properties in Guangzhou saw over 150 visits per day, up 200 percent from normal levels.
Adjusted policies motivate China's home sales: experts
