Indocement 'adopts' students

JAKARTA (JP): The management of the private-owned PT Indocement Tunggal Prakarsa has started a foster children program for 626 elementary and junior students.

The elementary students will get Rp 75,000 (US$32.09), and the junior students Rp 175,000 annually.

The program follows calls by the government to support the nine-year compulsory education move, by helping students of low income families.

Of the students, 596 are from the villages surrounding the company's plant in Citeureup, Bogor. Thirty others are orphans of deceased employees.

A press release yesterday also said that a program for drop- outs provides training in mechanics, electricity, sewing and other skills. The report did not say when the program began, only mentioning that around 750 youngsters have attended so far.

The company is also repairing 13 schools in the districts of Citeureup, Cileungsi and Gunung Putri. Six of them were destroyed by heavy rains earlier this year.

The company has also built two junior schools, SMP Indocement I and II. (anr)