186 school buildings need repair

186 school buildings need repair

TANGERANG: As many as 186 schools in Tangerang
municipality are in poor condition and badly in need of repair,
an official said on Thursday.

"We might have the funds in the municipality's 2006 budget to
renovate the schools," the head of the Tangerang Education
Agency, Harry Mulya Zain, remarked.

He said the administration had allocated more than Rp 200
billion (US$23.5 million), or 42 percent of its 2004 budget, for
the renovation of 350 school, to pay the salaries of teachers and
school employees, and to provide scholarships.

The administration called on businesspeople in Tangerang to
give a hand in the repair of damaged schools.

"If the companies cannot donate money to renovate schools, we
hope they can at least earmark some of their profits to help
impoverished students," Harry said. -- JP