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For
teen-agers across Russia, their last day of high school was celebrated with
singing and drinking in the streets. For teen-agers in Chechnya's capital, the
day — accompanied by explosions and shootouts in the distance — meant the
end of an education wracked by two wars.
``I
will never forget my school years. I will remember wars, shellings, cold
classrooms, iron stoves,'' said 17-year-old Magomed Aliyev, standing outside
School No. 41 in Grozny, near the shattered city's central market.
``I
will remember oilcloth in the windows instead of glass, and how shrapnel hit the
walls of our classroom during shellings,'' he said. That happened four times;
the last time was last month, he recalled.
Just
three other students made it through their 11 years of schooling to finish with
Aliyev on Friday. They started school in this once-bustling capital as the
Soviet Union was collapsing and Chechen separatists were rising to power.
``Ten
years ago there were 31 kids in my class,'' said Aiza Nadyrova, teacher of the
graduating class. ``Many of them left Grozny because of the wars, and now I have
only four who finish school this year.''
Classmates
of all ages helped the graduates celebrate Friday, dancing and laughing outside
the ramshackle school, near a gutted apartment building.
The
school was closed several times during the current war between Russian forces
and Chechen rebels, which has raged since September 1999, and the last war, in
1994-1996.
Even
though Russian forces have claimed to control Grozny and most of Chechnya for
the past year, daily violence is palpable.
Rebels
who make their way into the capital clash at night with Russian forces or
pro-Moscow Chechen police. Remote-control mines explode around the city.
Civilians — including children — often fall victim to the violence.
``Shootouts
in the center of Grozny have become a common thing to us. We aren't scared of
them anymore, we've already seen a lot. But we are scared for the school kids,''
Nadyrova said.
Her
school, she said, was lucky. ``Many schools were razed to the ground.''
Russia
traditionally celebrates May 25 as ``Last Bell'' day, marked by parties and
performances marking the last regular school day for the graduating class. The
students then have a week off before exams begin June 1, and formal graduation
parties are held at the end of June.
For
all the difficulty of school life in Grozny, adult life is even more daunting
for Aliyev.
``I
would like to continue my education. I love poetry and would love to get a
literature education. However, I don't want to go to study in Russia where
police are very aggressive against Chechens,'' he said.
Chechnya
has few functioning colleges and limited class offerings, and they are often
targets for Russian troops who fear they harbor rebels.
``There
doesn't seem to be a way out, and I feel so frustrated,'' Aliyev said.
Copyright 2001 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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