Students traumatized by floods<\/p>\n
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Nearly a month after floods befell the capital, a pile of
\ndamaged books, cupboards, chairs, and desks still lies wet in
\nfront of state elementary school SD 07 in Petamburan, Central
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
The sun's rays have been prevented from filtering through to
\nJakarta by an almost continuous dark sky as the school equipment
\nrots and causes a foul smell which disturbs students studying in
\ntheir classrooms.<\/p>\n
"Many students are still haunted by the floods. They are
\nworried whenever the sky is cloudy," said Piator Hutapea, the
\nschool principal.<\/p>\n
Hutapea said the flooding caused suffering among many of his
\nstudents, whose homes had been destroyed or ruined by the
\ndevastating floods.<\/p>\n
On grounds of psychological trauma, the school management
\ndelayed by a week the elementary school test, which was scheduled
\nto begin last Monday. "We need more time to help return the
\nstudents to normal," he said.<\/p>\n
Hutapea said four other elementary schools in the process of
\nrebuilding were temporarily using SD 07, situated just meters
\nfrom a flood canal. Students now totaled 940.<\/p>\n
Although most parts of the school building had been damaged,
\nHutapea said they were yet to receive a single cent from the city
\nadministration to help repair the damage.<\/p>\n
He admitted that he did not know that there were funds
\nallocated to help all damaged state schools rebuild.<\/p>\n
The city administration said earlier that it had allocated Rp
\n24.5 billion for state elementary schools alone.<\/p>\n
According to data from the city administration, a total of 802
\nschools in the capital were damaged.<\/p>\n
However, it is widely suspected that the number had been
\ninflated so emergency repair funds could later be corrupted.<\/p>\n
Abu Tholib, 7, and Taufik, 7, were among SD 07's more
\nfortunate students as they had received new uniforms and books
\nfrom an individual donor.<\/p>\n
"I have received two sets of uniforms and a package of books,"
\nAbu said. All his clothing and books were swept away by the
\nfloods.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Nus Anakotta, an employee at SD 05 Bidara Cina, in
\nEast Jakarta said that it had not received any assistance, either
\nfrom the city administration or from donors.<\/p>\n
"We have yet to receive any donations from them to repair the
\ndamaged school's equipment," Nus said.<\/p>\n
Most of students at the SD 05 Bidara Cina, attended class
\nwearing only sandals as their shoes were swept away in the
\nfloods.<\/p>\n
"Of the total 400 students here, 379 are flood victims. The
\nstudents are in dire need of books, bags, uniforms and shoes at
\npresent," Nus said.<\/p>\n
Drenched books were seen piled at the school. Some rotting and
\nsmelly cupboards are yet to be removed from inside the
\nclassrooms.<\/p>\n
The school's roof remained in disrepair after it was damaged
\nby homeless residents seeking refuge from the floods. The school
\nitself was inundated by waters two-meters deep, Nus said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/students-traumatized-by-floods-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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