Maluku schools get failing grade

Maluku schools get failing grade

M. Azis Tunny, The Jakarta Post/East Seram

Leaking and collapsing roofs, and holes in fragile walls -- these
are common sights in many schools in the East Seram regency of
Maluku province.

Elementary school SDN 2 Geser in East Seram is among the
schools that desperately requires the government's attention.

Built in 1907, the school is no longer an appropriate place to
study. Leaking roofs constantly disrupt learning activities in
the old school, which only used to have three classrooms before
three more were added in 1988.

"Whenever rain starts to fall, we move the students from the
old classrooms to the newer classrooms," the school principal,
Burhanudin Kelian, told The Jakarta Post recently.

He said the school has frequently requested repairs from the
regental administration, but to no avail.

"We were proposing repairs to the regental administration even
before I become school principal. But the requests have never
been fulfilled," said Burhanudin.

The school, which has 165 students and 14 teachers, earlier
had shingle roof but in the 1970s this was replaced with
corrugated iron sheets. The roof has not been replaced since, and
the leaks are getting worst.

"Our school is in a poor state, which makes me wonder about
schools in even more remote areas," Burhanudin said.

Apart from leaking roofs, walls dividing classrooms are also
in a poor state. Students in classrooms often cannot focus on
their study due to noise coming from adjoining classrooms.

In Geser town itself, there are three elementary schools, and
all of them are in a sorry state.

Another school, SDN 1 Amarsekaru in the Gorom island district
in East Seram regency, always flooded during rain.

According to a teacher, Nur Rumata, the school, which was
built by residents in 1955, has never been visited by education
office officials from the regency or the Maluku province.

The number of desks and chairs were insufficient for the
school's 363 students.

"Since it was built, the school has never been renovated by
the government. Whenever it rains, students can't study because
they are wet. Four classrooms can't be used during rain either
because they become flooded. School facilities, like books, are
also not provided," Nur said.

Most students in the school came from poor families, having
only one uniform each and many do not wear shoes to school.

In view of this, the school allows students to attend classes
wearing their ordinary clothes and flip-flops on Fridays and
Saturdays.

"At our school, students do not pay tuition fees because many
of them come from poor families. Many of our students do not have
school textbooks either, so (their learning) depends on the
classes given by teachers," Nur said.

A fourth grader at the school, Musa Loklomi, said he only has
one uniform and not a single school textbook. Everyday, he only
brings a notebook and pencil to school.

"I don't have school textbooks because there's no money to buy
them. But I want to continue my study to senior high school,"
Musa said.

Maluku Governor Karel Albert Ralahalu inspected schools in the
area last week, at the same time handing out assistance to repair
leaking roofs and damaged walls.

"Their demands (for repairs) are understandable and must be
accommodated by the government, especially as this is related to
education," Karel said.

He said basic needs, including education and healthcare,
should receive more attention than other sectors. His
administration, he said, hoped to allocate 20 percent of the
provincial budget to the education sector this year.

According to Maluku province's education office, some 423
elementary school buildings were in a poor state and in dire need
of attention.