City eyes philanthropists' schools<\/p>\n
Damar Harsanto, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Governor Sutiyoso said on Thursday that the administration would
\nhelp build better schools for over a 1,500 poor children who are
\ncurrently studying at schools established by twin sisters, Rossi
\nand Rian, also known as the Kartini Emergency Schools (SDK).<\/p>\n
"I have allowed them (Rossi and Rian) to coordinate with the
\nrelevant municipalities, including the Offices of Social Affairs
\nto look for new locations for their schools," Sutiyoso announced
\nto the public at City Hall after meeting with the two
\nphilanthropists.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso said the administration would build "modest schools",
\nwith better conditions than their current makeshift classrooms.<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Elementary Education Agency head Gito Utomo
\nPurnomo said the related city agencies led by the Jakarta Public
\nWelfare Agency head, Rohana Manggala, would first check the
\nvalidity of the reports made by Rossi and Rian.<\/p>\n
"They claim to have five schools across the city. We will
\nfirst ask them to submit the data on poor children attending
\nthose schools," said Gito.<\/p>\n
Gito also suggested that the two establish a foundation to
\nmanage the schools in order to obtain official status as a
\nspecial private school from the administration.<\/p>\n
Rossi and Rian believe that establishing an official
\ngovernment-recognized foundation for the schools would be
\ncounterproductive.<\/p>\n
"We don't need any foundation to control the school. Running
\nsuch a special school for squatters' children who stay under
\nbridges requires special and personal treatment, different from
\nthe kind of services provided by (state) institutions,
\nfoundations or non-governmental organizations," Rossi said.<\/p>\n
Rossi said that poor children who live under bridges, for
\ninstance, could only interact with teachers who are familiar with
\ntheir situation.<\/p>\n
"Sending in teachers from outside their community would only
\nspell trouble since they would find it difficult to conform to
\nthe way of thinking of those children. Besides, I am afraid that
\nthose teachers will ask for salaries for their services," she
\nsaid, adding that they relied on volunteer teachers with similar
\nphilanthropic motives at the schools.<\/p>\n
According to Rossi, there are around 1,600 children studying
\nat the six schools, all of which are located in North Jakarta.
\nThe schools are situated on Jl. Lodan Raya in Ancol; at Rawa
\nBebek under the Gedong Panjang toll road; at a site under Pluit
\nIII toll road; at a site near the Angke rail line; under Grogol
\ntoll road in Jelambar and on Jl. Pulo Asem Raya, Pulomas
\ndistrict.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/city-eyes-philanthropists-schools-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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