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.