NTB has almost 10,000 dropouts

MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: Some 9,994 students, or 14 percent of all sixth grade students, did not go on to junior high schools last year, Antara reported yesterday.

The news agency quoted H.M. Achwan, a local official of the Ministry of Education and Culture, as saying that the high drop- out rate was caused by poverty. The children are expected to help the parents make ends meet, he said.

"To help raise people's awareness of the children's need for education, the ministry is offering scholarships for poor, but talented, students," Achwan said.

As many as 5,972 students of local junior high schools also dropped out last year.

Achwan pointed out that his office has also built and upgraded school buildings and counseled parents in order to curb the drop- out rate. (16)