60,000 students might drop out

MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: Lack of funds will force some 60,000 students in Mataram to leave school early, the West Nusa Tenggara chapter of the Family Welfare Movement (PKK) said on Monday.

PKK chairwoman Nuraini Harun Al Rasyid said that the students received assistance from the central government-sponsored National Child Sponsorship Movement (GNOTA) in the past, but their fate was at stake now that the program had been halted due to the economic crisis.

To help them continue their education, Nuraini suggested that the local government take over the central government's role in the fund-raising program.

"We have written to the West Nusa Tenggara governor, asking the provincial government to allocate money from the provincial budget for the students," said Nuraini, who is Governor Harun Al Rasyid's wife.

PKK is now helping 220 students, and expects to assist over 1,000 if the provincial budget for the students is approved. -- Antara