Number of students needing help soars

TANGERANG (JP): The number of school-age children from poor families in need of assistance in least developed villages in Indonesia reached about 90,000, up almost 500 percent from before the economic crisis hit the country in July 1997, an official said.

Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare and Poverty Eradication Haryono Suyono said here on Monday that 20,000 of the 90,000 students lived in villages, while the other 70,000 came from areas outside the villages.

Haryono made his remarks during the registration of new students at elementary and junior high schools in Balaraja district, Tangerang.

Tangerang Regent Agus Djunara said the number of school-age children from poor families in the regency was at least 437,821. "About 52,021 of these children cannot be accommodated (in schools) due to limited facilities."

"We are looking for a solution to the problem," he said.

Haryono later told Agus to find solutions to the problem through cooperation with the private sector.(41/hhr)