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.