Elementary school graduates illiterate

WAMENA, Irian Jaya: At least 100 elementary school graduates in the regency have been denied entry to junior high school for the 2000/2001 academic year because they are unable to read and write.

George de Fretes, the head of the local office of the ministry of national education, said on Wednesday entrance tests conducted by five state junior high schools in the regency found the students remained functionally illiterate despite their six years of study in primary school.

George questioned how the 100 children were able to graduate without learning to read and write. "I have ordered related officials to check the teaching and learning process and to investigate possible scams," he told Antara.

He also complained about the increase in the number of teachers who were resigning because they did not wish to live and work in remote areas.