Hundreds of school buildings damaged by floods: Agency

Hundreds of school buildings damaged by floods: Agency

Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A total of 802 schools have been damaged and over 180,000
students have had their schooling disrupted despite the upcoming
second term examination on Feb. 25 as a result of ongoing floods
in the capital.

"Many of the students have resumed their activities but some
are still forced to skip classes due to the floodwaters," said
Sulaiman, the head of the City Community Health Agency, during a
hearing with the City Council Commission E for social welfare
affairs on Wednesday.

Of the city's 3,084 elementary schools, 422 were severely
damaged by the floods, disrupting classes for more than 130,000
students. One hundred and twenty seven junior high schools -- of
a total of 1,017 throughout Jakarta -- accommodating 31,217
students, were also affected by the floods, which began on Jan.
28.

Flooding forced 18,895 students from 136 senior high schools
to miss classes. Even toddlers were affected, as 117
kindergartens were also damaged by the floods.

"Most of the buildings have suffered serious damage although
there are some which have been slightly damaged by the
floodwater," said Sulaiman, adding that water had also destroyed
wooden furniture in affected schools.

It wasn't clear whether the flooding had also affected other
school facilities, such as laboratories and expensive scientific
equipment.

Some schools in flooded areas have had to be used as temporary
shelters for flood victims.

The City Education Agency revealed earlier that it would use
some of its Rp 500 billion (US$48.6 million) in funds, allocated
in the 2002 City Budget, to renovate school buildings hit by the
floods.

The disruptions to classes were not caused solely by the
damage to school buildings. Many text books and uniforms were
swept away by floodwaters or soiled by mud, especially in Teluk
Gong in North Jakarta, Manggarai in South Jakarta and Cipinang in
East Jakarta.

Most of the students who managed to return to school showed up
without uniforms and books.

Sulaiman said the agency had distributed 30,000 education
packages -- consisting of uniforms, bags and books -- to poor
students.

Students in Central Jakarta received 3,000 packages, while
7,500 were sent to North Jakarta, 7,500 to West Jakarta, 6,000 to
South Jakarta and 6,000 packages to East Jakarta.

"All the donations were handed over to students through
subdistrict offices," he said.

Sulaiman revealed that the worst-hit schools were mostly
located in subdistricts in North Jakarta, including Penjaringan,
Penjagalan, Kapuk Muara and North Kelapa Gading.

He said the packages were bought with Rp 1.5 billion in
public donations made to the city administration.

While the students received education packages, Sulaiman said
the agency had also distributed 30,000 food packages to their
parents.