Maluku schools get failing grade<\/p>\n
M. Azis Tunny, The Jakarta Post\/East Seram<\/p>\n
Leaking and collapsing roofs, and holes in fragile walls -- these
\nare common sights in many schools in the East Seram regency of
\nMaluku province.<\/p>\n
Elementary school SDN 2 Geser in East Seram is among the
\nschools that desperately requires the government's attention.<\/p>\n
Built in 1907, the school is no longer an appropriate place to
\nstudy. Leaking roofs constantly disrupt learning activities in
\nthe old school, which only used to have three classrooms before
\nthree more were added in 1988.<\/p>\n
\"Whenever rain starts to fall, we move the students from the
\nold classrooms to the newer classrooms,\" the school principal,
\nBurhanudin Kelian, told The Jakarta Post recently.<\/p>\n
He said the school has frequently requested repairs from the
\nregental administration, but to no avail.<\/p>\n
\"We were proposing repairs to the regental administration even
\nbefore I become school principal. But the requests have never
\nbeen fulfilled,\" said Burhanudin.<\/p>\n
The school, which has 165 students and 14 teachers, earlier
\nhad shingle roof but in the 1970s this was replaced with
\ncorrugated iron sheets. The roof has not been replaced since, and
\nthe leaks are getting worst.<\/p>\n
\"Our school is in a poor state, which makes me wonder about
\nschools in even more remote areas,\" Burhanudin said.<\/p>\n
Apart from leaking roofs, walls dividing classrooms are also
\nin a poor state. Students in classrooms often cannot focus on
\ntheir study due to noise coming from adjoining classrooms.<\/p>\n
In Geser town itself, there are three elementary schools, and
\nall of them are in a sorry state.<\/p>\n
Another school, SDN 1 Amarsekaru in the Gorom island district
\nin East Seram regency, always flooded during rain.<\/p>\n
According to a teacher, Nur Rumata, the school, which was
\nbuilt by residents in 1955, has never been visited by education
\noffice officials from the regency or the Maluku province.<\/p>\n
The number of desks and chairs were insufficient for the
\nschool's 363 students.<\/p>\n
\"Since it was built, the school has never been renovated by
\nthe government. Whenever it rains, students can't study because
\nthey are wet. Four classrooms can't be used during rain either
\nbecause they become flooded. School facilities, like books, are
\nalso not provided,\" Nur said.<\/p>\n
Most students in the school came from poor families, having
\nonly one uniform each and many do not wear shoes to school.<\/p>\n
In view of this, the school allows students to attend classes
\nwearing their ordinary clothes and flip-flops on Fridays and
\nSaturdays.<\/p>\n
\"At our school, students do not pay tuition fees because many
\nof them come from poor families. Many of our students do not have
\nschool textbooks either, so (their learning) depends on the
\nclasses given by teachers,\" Nur said.<\/p>\n
A fourth grader at the school, Musa Loklomi, said he only has
\none uniform and not a single school textbook. Everyday, he only
\nbrings a notebook and pencil to school.<\/p>\n
\"I don't have school textbooks because there's no money to buy
\nthem. But I want to continue my study to senior high school,\"
\nMusa said.<\/p>\n
Maluku Governor Karel Albert Ralahalu inspected schools in the
\narea last week, at the same time handing out assistance to repair
\nleaking roofs and damaged walls.<\/p>\n
\"Their demands (for repairs) are understandable and must be
\naccommodated by the government, especially as this is related to
\neducation,\" Karel said.<\/p>\n
He said basic needs, including education and healthcare,
\nshould receive more attention than other sectors. His
\nadministration, he said, hoped to allocate 20 percent of the
\nprovincial budget to the education sector this year.<\/p>\n
According to Maluku province's education office, some 423
\nelementary school buildings were in a poor state and in dire need
\nof attention.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/maluku-schools-get-failing-grade-1447893297",
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