A bowl of porridge makes school a little brighter

A bowl of porridge makes school a little brighter

JAKARTA (JP): A bowl of green bean porridge is enough
incentive to attend class, principals of elementary schools in
South Jakarta said.

If a child was absent his or her mother would come and ask to
collect the share, Ratih Wahyu, principal of SDN Manggarai 18
said.

Her students were among 1,300 from eight elementary schools in
the poor districts of Manggarai and Pasar Manggis, South Jakarta,
who enjoyed the porridge on Tuesday, provided by a French oil
firm, Total Indonesie.

Another principal, Maryati of SDN Manggarai 12, said the
children "are actually looking forward to the days when free
snacks are delivered."

Sometimes students try to bring their share of snacks or milk
home for younger siblings, she said.

The free snacks marked the start of Total's three-month
program for poor students in the above areas. Dipnala Tamzil, the
firm's vice president of human resource and communications, said
Total "intends to support the government's school health
program."

The program in Jakarta is one of a number of community
development projects initiated by the company, which has operated
here for 32 years. Urban programs were triggered by the economic
crisis.

In view of the difficult times, "the Indonesian business
community should extend help .. to the less fortunate urban
population (hit by) the prolonged economic crisis," a press
release from the firm said.

The students on Tuesday were all from afternoon classes in
Manggarai and Pasar Manggis, which the City Social Development
office has identified as those who are poorer than students in
morning classes.

Ratih, one of the principals, said the students, who mostly
live in shacks along the nearby Ciliwung river, usually miss
school during flood periods. She added that parents often
neglected their children's needs -- such as school fees,
stationary and those related to health -- as they were busy
working as carpenters, scavengers, or washing clothes.

Ratih said she has found her students working as buskers on
trains passing the Manggarai station. These students told her the
money was either spent on snacks or put away for savings.

She added that a food support program under the social safety
net last year provided Rp 750 per student per day for nutritious
snacks. The program, however, was irregular, ranging from twice
to five times a week, she said, and its continuity over this
school year was unclear.

Following the first months of the crisis in 1997, the public
was alarmed by reports of children dying of malnutrition. The
free nutritious snacks program under the nationwide safety net is
a bid to address this problem.

Last year with the safety net funds, Ratih said, "we managed
to supply various snacks, such as fried bananas, fried tempe and
sometimes cheap pizza, but the students were not familiar with
(pizza)."

Ratih said the snacks gave encouragement to the children "to
study harder."

Desy, a 12-year old, said she had a daily allowance of Rp 500
from her mother, "but with the free snacks twice a week, I save
the money for stationary such as pencils and books."

On the 10th of each month the students are expected to pay
school fees of Rp 7,000, but on average only two students from a
class of 20 are able to pay, said Ratih.

There are about 90 students in the elementary school, 25 of
which are supported by foster parents.

Maryati said, "I hope other business communities will join
similar efforts, perhaps in other ways such as supporting school
fees and stationary supplies." (07)