Students' ears bent out of shape at school<\/p>\n
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Many students in Jakarta cannot fully absorb their lessons
\nbecause their schools fail to provide an atmosphere that is
\nconducive to studying. Some of them are located adjacent to a
\nnoisy market, a shopping mall, a putrid dump site or a railway
\ntrack.<\/p>\n
State High School 37 in Kebon Baru, South Jakarta, is among
\nthe schools situated near a railway track.<\/p>\n
\"A train passes every 20 minutes. The noise and tremors caused
\nby the passing trains often distract students,\" Andhika, a
\nstudent at the school told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Andhika complained that a teacher could not be heard above the
\nnoise of a passing train, causing students to miss the point.<\/p>\n
\"First and second year students whose classrooms are only
\nmeters from the railway track are perhaps the ones who suffer the
\nmost. It is less annoying for third year students, but maybe
\nthat's only because we've got used to it,\" Andhika said jokingly.<\/p>\n
However, the school principal, Ramna Chaniago, claimed that
\nneither teachers nor students had complained about the noise.<\/p>\n
Ramna also boasted that her students did well academically.<\/p>\n
Conditions are even worse at other schools. In addition to the
\nnoise, the hustle and bustle of nearby shopping centers coupled
\nwith heavy traffic also contribute to an inconducive atmosphere.<\/p>\n
Like in the compound of private school Merdeka and state
\nsecondary school 14, which are located in the same building in
\nJatinegara, East Jakarta. They are situated right beside the
\nJatinegara Plaza shopping center and a bird market.<\/p>\n
Shabby and messy plastic stalls belonging to VCD street
\nvendors spill over right onto the sidewalk in front of the
\nschool, almost totally blocking its two-meter-wide gate. Loud
\nmusic played on the vendors' VCD players coupled with honking
\nhorns makes it a perfect marketplace, but not ideal for studying.<\/p>\n
\"Previously, the sidewalk in front of the schools was clear of
\nstreet vendors. But, since 1997 when the economic crisis hit the
\ncountry, vendors began to use the space,\" Eep, an administration
\nstaffer of secondary school 14 complained.<\/p>\n
Eep revealed that the school management had asked the city
\nadministration repeatedly to move the school to a place more
\nfavorable for studying, but there had been no response.<\/p>\n
\"We have complained repeatedly to the public order officers
\nhere but to no avail. And the vendors refuse to leave,\" said Eep.<\/p>\n
Nurjanah, whose daughter studies at the school, also expressed
\nconcern over the conditions around the school.<\/p>\n
\"I'm more concerned about safety. The crowded situation and
\nbad traffic is an unsafe environment for my little daughter.
\nThat's why I have to pick her up after school every day,\"
\nNurjanah grumbled.<\/p>\n
Nurjanah, who lives in Kebon Pala, East Jakarta, chose the
\nschool for her daughter because her home is relatively close to
\nthe school.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, for students at the state elementary school in
\nPisangan Baru 05 in East Jakarta, it is a big dump site right in
\nfront of the school building that bothers them.<\/p>\n
According to the school caretaker, Sugiyo, who has stayed at
\nthe school since the 1960s, the yard in front of the school used
\nto be a park.<\/p>\n
\"But in 1985, the city administration transformed the park
\ninto a dump,\" Sugiyo said.<\/p>\n
\"The bad smell is really annoying, especially in the rainy
\nseason. I even have to pinch my nostrils together during class,\"
\nsighed Riyan, a fifth year student who resides in Jatinegara,
\nEast Jakarta.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/students-ears-bent-out-of-shape-at-school-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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