Schools across Pakistan, including the one attacked by militants in the northwestern city of Peshawar, are reopening this week as they try and put a horrific month behind them.
The schools were on an extended break following the Dec. 16 attack on the Army Public School, which killed over 140 people and injured 120 others, the BBC reports.
Staff and students at the army-run school, where seven gunmen from the Pakistani Taliban massacred 132 students and several staff members, will hold a ceremony to commemorate the victims before classes resume in the coming days.
The attack, an apparent retaliation for army operations against the Taliban, was the worst-ever terrorist atrocity in Pakistan.
Meet the Young Survivors of the Peshawar School Attack
Batur Khan, 14, a student who survived the Pakistani Taliban's attack on the Army Public School on Dec. 16, in the school's yard. Peshawar, Pakistan. Dec. 20, 2014.
"The gunman started shooting randomly. At that moment I ran toward the door, which is close to me, but I was pushed by another boy and I fell on the ground," Batur said. "I stood up so quickly and the sound of the shooting was right behind me and I managed to run out of the door."Muhammed Muheisen—AP for TIMEA wall riddled with bullet holes inside the Army Public School, which was attacked on Dec. 16 by the Pakistani Taliban. Peshawar, Pakistan. Dec. 18, 2014.Muhammed Muheisen—AP Mohammad Tufail Mumtaz, 14, a student who survived the Pakistani Taliban's attack on the Army Public School on Dec. 16, in the school's yard. Peshawar, Pakistan. Dec. 21, 2014.
"I was totally covered with bodies over me and around me as the shooting was from behind me," Mohammad recalled from the scene in the auditorium. "I closed my eyes, I stopped my breathing and I lost track of time."Muhammed Muheisen—AP for TIMEChairs in the auditorium are overturned and the floor is stained with blood after the Pakistani Taliban attacked the Army Public School on Dec. 16. Peshawar, Pakistan. Dec. 18, 2014.Muhammed Muheisen—APMesbah Hadait, 7, a student who survived the Pakistani Taliban's attack on the Army Public School on Dec. 16, in the school's yard. Peshawar, Pakistan. Dec. 20, 2014.
"I remember nothing of that day," Mesbah said. "I have no memory of it."Muhammed Muheisen—AP for TIMEHina Gul, 8, a student who survived the Pakistani Taliban's attack on the Army Public School on Dec. 16, in the school's yard. Peshawar, Pakistan. Dec. 20, 2014.
"Inshallah, I will come back to my school," Hina said.Muhammed Muheisen—AP for TIMEA Pakistani army officer stands in front of a bullet-riddled wall inside the Army Public School, which was attacked on Dec. 16 by the Pakistani Taliban. Peshawar, Pakistan. Dec. 18, 2014.Muhammed Muheisen—AP for TIMEBilal Ahmad, 16, a student who survived the Pakistani Taliban's attack on the Army Public School on Dec. 16, in the school's yard. Peshawar, Pakistan. Dec. 20, 2014.
"For almost an hour we were on the ground silently hearing our own breaths," Bilal said. "And the sound of firing was endless till soldiers arrived and grabbed us and took us through the back doors out of the school."Muhammed Muheisen—AP for TIMEA damaged room inside the Army Public School, which was attacked on Dec. 16 by the Pakistani Taliban. Peshawar, Pakistan. Dec. 18, 2014.Muhammed Muheisen—APOmar Ali Shah, 10, a student who survived the Pakistani Taliban's attack on the Army Public School on Dec. 16, in the school's yard. Peshawar, Pakistan. Dec. 20, 2014.
"I heard shooting just outside our classroom, just next to the auditorium hall, and my teacher had us to lay on the ground and to be silent for 40 to 50 minutes," Omar said. "During these minutes I thought it's the end of life, till soldiers came to our class."Muhammed Muheisen—AP for TIMEA Pakistani woman looks at the damage inside the Army Public School, which was attacked on Dec. 16 by the Pakistani Taliban. Peshawar, Pakistan. Dec. 18, 2014.Muhammed Muheisen—AP Faizan Raees, 12, a student who survived the Pakistani Taliban's attack on the Army Public School on Dec. 16, in the school's yard. Peshawar, Pakistan. Dec. 20, 2014.
"Our teacher immediately said to us that we were under attack and we have to be quiet and lay on the ground," Faizan recalled. "After 30 minutes, a soldier came to our class."Muhammed Muheisen—AP for TIMEA wall riddled with bullet holes inside the Army Public School, which was attacked on Dec. 16 by the Pakistani Taliban. Peshawar, Pakistan. Dec. 18, 2014.Muhammed Muheisen—AP for TIMEMuddathir Naveed, 14, (right) and Muzammil, 12, students and brothers who survived the Pakistani Taliban's attack on the Army Public School on Dec. 16, in the school's yard. Peshawar, Pakistan. Dec. 20, 2014.
"It's so dangerous to study in Peshawar and so important to me and my family," Muddathir said. "Me and my brother will go back to study in the same school." Muzammil echoed that sentiment.
"I will keep coming to my school, am not afraid anymore," he said. "As my father always said to me, 'Be brave my son,' and I want to be a brave man."Muhammed Muheisen—AP for TIMEEntekhab Alam, 14, a student who survived the Pakistani Taliban's attack on the Army Public School on Dec. 16, in the school's yard. Peshawar, Pakistan. Dec. 20, 2014.
"Our teacher who gives us the religion class didn't come to the class, so we started playing in the classroom," Entekhab said. "Few minutes after, there was a very loud sound of shooting. I blocked my ears with my hands and ran outside along with a friend, and there was shooting right behind us, and when I reached the gate I noticed that my poor friend got killed. He didn't make it to the gate."Muhammed Muheisen—AP for TIMEA Pakistani police officer walks through a hallway inside the Army Public School, which was attacked on Dec. 16 by the Pakistani Taliban. Peshawar, Pakistan. Dec. 18, 2014.Muhammed Muheisen—APAfaq Ahmad, 16, a student who survived the Pakistani Taliban's attack on the Army Public School on Dec. 16. Peshawar, Pakistan. Dec. 21, 2014.
"Illiteracy is the main reason of terrorism," Afaq said. "To fight it we have all to be educated."Muhammed Muheisen—AP for TIMEA man stands at the exit of a hallway that was heavily damaged in the Pakistani Taliban's Dec. 16 attack on the Army Public School. Peshawar, Pakistan. Dec. 18, 2014.Muhammed Muheisen—AP
