Floods inundate 78 city-run schools

JAKARTA: Recent flooding had damaged 78 city-run schools in Jakarta as of last Friday with the number set to increase as heavy rain is expected to persist until the end of the month, date released on Sunday revealed.

Figures issued by the Flood Crisis Center at City Hall revealed that 34 elementary schools, 10 junior high schools and 34 senior high schools had been damaged by the floods.

In total, some 14,000 students have had their lessons disrupted.

The figures, however, did not cover private schools.

Governor Sutiyoso has said that he would do his best to ensure that the pupils would be able to continue their studies despite the floods.

"The pupils will resume their studies as soon as the water recedes," he told reporters Friday.

"We will repair all the affected schools using the city contingency fund."

Currently, the contingency fund stands at some Rp 700 billion (US$78.65). -- JP