3,000 drop-outs in East Kalimantan

SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: The crisis has led to some 3,080 students becoming school drop-outs in the province in the past year.

The head of the education office here, Rijani Asnawie, also said an open junior high school system was being applied for those who could not continue studies. In this system teachers come to teach the children at the school nearest to them.

Rijani added East Kalimantan lacked 4,805 teachers and 60 percent of them had only graduated from senior high school instead of having the formal requisites of at least a diploma.

To overcome the lack of teachers particularly in remote areas he said teachers working in the hinterland get a monthly incentive of Rp 150,000 while those in border areas get Rp 200,000. In comparison teachers in towns get a monthly incentive of Rp 100,000.