Food poisoning disturbs schooling

BANDAR LAMPUNG, Lampung: The Sabuk Indah II primary school has kept its doors open despite the food poisoning incident that killed two students last week.

But the incident clearly disturbed class, Antara quoted Sri Wardhani of the local office of the Ministry of Education and Culture.

She said her office decided there was no reason to close school. The students unaffected in the incident still needed to go to school, as did the remaining teachers and employees, she added.

Sri said that 192 of the school's 220 students became ill after consuming mung beans porridge prepared by local housewives. Four teachers were also ill, along with two infants fed by their mothers.

Two students, Surianto (13) and Darus Dewantara (8), died. As of Tuesday, some 50 students were still in hospital.

The school was among thousands of elementary schools included in the food supplemental program for children in poor villages in July last year. The program aims to help the growth and development of children.

The additional food, cooked and supplied by local housewives, is handed out free three times a week at a cost of Rp 350 (15 U.S. cents) per child per day. (swe)