Administration asked to renovate damaged schools
Administration asked to renovate damaged schools
JAKARTA (JP): The City Council's Commission E for public welfare and education is prompting the administration to repair state-owned elementary schools damaged by the recent floods.
"We want the authorities to prioritize the renovation of the six schools worst affected by the recent floods," said Atje Muljadi, the commission chairman.
He told The Jakarta Post Saturday that the city education and teaching office, which is in charge of elementary level education, has agreed to meet the councilors on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Atje said the January and February floods damaged a total of 54 state-owned schools.
The six worst hit buildings are two in Petamburan, Central Jakarta, two in Kebayoran Baru and Pengadegan, South Jakarta, and two in Bidara Cina and Cililitan, East Jakarta.
The floods caused damages of some Rp 200 million (US$8,516.44), according to a recent report by the city agency.
The agency's data lists 103 elementary schools, built between 1968 and 1978, needing repairs. The cost of repairing each school is estimated at Rp 20 million to Rp 50 million.
The estimated cost to repair schools in West, North and Central Jakarta reaches Rp 3.63 billion.
Last year, the head of the city education and teaching office, Soeparmo, estimated that Rp 114 billion would be needed to renovate 560 out of 1,700 elementary school buildings throughout the city.
However, in the current 1996/1997 fiscal year only 15 elementary schools will be upgraded.
One school on the agency's Central Jakarta list which needs repairs is SD Duri Pulo, where the ceiling of grade six caved in on Thursday.
Teachers told 45 students to move to other classes, while others held the ceiling up with a long bench, the Pos Kota daily reported. The principal reported the incident to the Gambir district office of the agency. Authorities have promised to check the building.
The education and teaching office report says that determining which schools have priority for renovation lies with the city agency for building repairs. (anr)