130 school buildings in poor condition

MALANG, East Java: About 130 elementary school buildings in the South Malang area are in bad condition and need immediate repairs, the head of the local Cipta Karya Public Works Office, Erijanto, claimed on Monday. He said that following a survey it was discovered that 130 school buildings were in "bad shape".

He said that, as a first phase, 73 schools will be rehabilitated, including the reconstruction of the buildings' foundations if necessary.

Antara reported that some Rp 7 billion had been allocated for rehabilitation work in 2001.

"There are three main categories in selecting which schools get assisted first. The first is the extent of the damage, the second is how isolated the school is, and the third is the academic record of the schools themselves," Erijanto said.