Primary schools close due to few students

JAKARTA (JP): The city administration closed 107 state-owned primary schools between 1988 and 1995 because of declining student numbers; many of the schools' sites now contain office buildings.

The head of the education and teaching agency's city office, Soeparmo, told Antara on Thursday that primary schools which operated in the afternoon would continue to be closed.

"State-run primary schools operating in the afternoon with less than 100 pupils will be merged with those located nearby which operate in the morning," Soeparmo said.

He said that teachers from the closed schools would be transferred.

Jakarta -- with a population of nearly 10 million -- has 3,942 primary schools, including those owned by private institutions or Islamic groups, which are housed in 2,492 buildings.

Of these primary schools, 1,450 operate in the afternoon.

There are 684,516 pupils at state primary schools and private primary schools. The schools have 35,765 teachers.

The ratio of teachers to pupils is 1:19.

Soeparmo said that despite the primary school closures, the city still needs more teachers.

Primary schools in Indonesia are managed by two institutions: the municipal administration which provides the buildings, furniture and teachers; and the Ministry of Education and Culture which provides the curriculum.

Soeparmo said many businessmen had relocated their offices to the sites of demolished schools.

Many of the closed schools were in areas that were strategic for businesses.

The schools which have been closed and replaced by business centers include State Primary School (SDN) Cideng 15 Pagi, SDN Kebon Sirih 07 Pagi, SDN Senen 03 Pagi, SDN Petojo Utara 03 Pagi, SDN Petojo Utara 12 Pagi, SDN Cilincing 07 Pagi, SDN Cilincing 08 Pagi, SDN Sunter Agung 11 Pagi, SDN Sunter Agung 15 Pagi, SDN Guntur 06 Pagi, SDN Srengseng 07 Pagi, SDN Menteng Atas 09 Pagi, SDN Kayu Putih 11 Pagi, SDN Kebon Manggis 05 Pagi, SDN Kebon Manggis 06 Pagi, SDN Rawabunga 02 Pagi and SDN Duren Sawit 11 Pagi.

According to some education analysts, the decreasing number of primary school students in the capital might be caused by the relocation of some urban residential areas to outer districts.

The demolition of many houses in the city and the establishment of housing estates and apartment buildings in the outer suburbs or in satellite cities have caused people to move from the city to the outer suburbs or satellite cities.

People with money are sending their children to more popular and more professional private schools rather state schools which they consider substandard and poorly managed.

"The city administration will build schools in suburban or border areas which are densely populated," Soeparmo said .(kod)