France, Jan. 27 -- Some 115,000 pupils began returning to school in Mayotte on Monday, six weeks after cyclone Chido devastated the French Indian Ocean archipelago. Conditions remain difficult for both teachers and pupils and some schools remain shuttered for the time being.

The start of the school year, scheduled for 13 January, had already been postponed twice due to the severe damage caused by Chido and storm Dikeledi.

Despite calls for further delays, the education authorities went ahead with Monday's reopening, stressing the importance of staying in touch with pupils.

However,39 of Mayotte's 221 primary schools and three of its secondary schools will not open immediately due to extensive damage.

For both teachers and pupils alike...