Govt needs Rp 114b for schools' renovation

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)