Homeless children roam the streets

BANJARMASIN, South Kalimantan: The province has an estimated 20,000 homeless and neglected children roaming the streets, according to an official.

Head of the provincial office of Ministry of Social Services, Sedyo Mulyo, told Antara Thursday that the problem of neglected children needs an immediate solution.

"Complex social and economic factors are behind the problem, so we'll need an integrated and coordinated approach to handle it," Sedyo said.

One of the efforts made by his office was to establish in 1990 a special elementary school to provide flexible schooling for street children, he said.

Unfortunately, not many people or institutes have reached out to help the school in its mission, he lamented. Even now the school can only accommodate 35 children. (swe)