Children study in crumbling building

BEKASI: Elementary school students and teachers of SDN Babelan 07 Bekasi carry on their daily studies in appalling conditions as the school building has all but fallen down while nothing has been done to repair it.

Six classrooms, a teacher's office, toilets and the school guard house have fractured walls and broken tiles. The wooden construction has decayed while a lot of roof tiles are broken, letting rainwater pour directly into classrooms ruining books and other school documents.

The worst classroom has been temporarily supported by a wooden beam, causing concern among students and teachers.

School principal Mirod Syahrudin said he had proposed funding for renovation to related agencies that promised to release the fund as soon as possible. But, to date no money has been received.

Bekasi education agency head Muhidin said that his office would conduct a site survey before deciding on the renovation.

"Students and teachers need to be a little bit patient since the renovation would require a huge fund," he said. -- Antara