Govt needs Rp 114b for schools' renovation

JAKARTA (JP): The city education and teaching office estimates that Rp 114 billion will be needed to renovate 560 elementary school buildings which are in poor condition throughout the city.

Head of the office, Soeparmo, said yesterday the estimate was made after the governor said that city administration planned to refurbish all elementary school buildings as soon as possible.

He said last year the city administration allocated Rp 29 billion for school building renovations and this year Rp 33 billion is earmarked for the purpose.

Soeparmo said that there are now 1,700 elementary school buildings in the city, 560 of which need to be renovated.

He said that currently some 100 buildings are in very poor condition and badly need renovating. The number could increase next year. The renovation plan covers all buildings, he said.

"There are school buildings which were not included on the renovation list because their current condition is good, but then they will probably need renovation next year," he said.

According to Soeparmo, the funds for school renovations is usually allocated to each mayoralty.

Many, including city councilors, believe that many school buildings have been sloppily built as the officials in charge of supervising the projects had colluded with contractors. As a result the quality of the buildings are very poor and they become run-down sooner.

Soeparmo dismissed the allegation, saying that tenders are processed according to basic procedures. "We are not choosing unqualified contractors to build or renovate school buildings," Soeparmo said.

He said that school building projects are open to any contractors, but only qualified ones will be awarded a contract.

Recently, member of the Council's Commission E for public welfare Ary Amier Armas said that Soeparmo's office had awarded school projects to contractors who have special relationships with the office's officials.

As a result, Ary said, the quality of the buildings is poor because contractors use low quality materials and most of the buildings are damaged soon after renovation.

Ary cited school buildings in North Jakarta as an example. "More than 30 percent of 481 school buildings in North Jakarta are in poor condition," he said.

He said that some of the buildings were built less than two years ago.(yns)