Public asked to contribute to save tumbledown schools

Indra Harsaputra, The Jakarta Post, Pasuruan

Manan Hadi, the school principal of Tanggul Angin 73 state elementary school in the Kejayan area, was very happy. He was escorting a group of journalists and non-governmental organization (NGO) activists, who were inspecting newly renovated school buildings. He occasionally greeted students studying in their class-rooms.

"The students are very happy. They are comfortable and delighted to be studying in renovated buildings, and no longer worry that the building will fall in upon them," said Manan.

Before the school building was renovated, teaching at the school was in sorry state. Some 90 percent of the school buildings were in a dilapidated condition.

The school administration had often asked for renovation funding from the regency education office, but it never materialized as the regency was always short in its budget allocations.

Manan decided last year to shift classes to a house belonging to local resident because of fears that the school buildings might collapse.

But, at the same time, the school administration worked hard to collecting donations in order to fund building renovations.

Local leaders, private companies such as instant milk maker PT Nestle Indonesia, and Nurani Dunia Foundation, all contributed funds to the renovation of the school buildings, which house 173 students. Some Rp 700 million was collected, most of it coming from PT Nestle, whose factory is located nearby.

The renovation, including construction of supporting facilities such as a library building and a large hall, began in the middle of this year, and is now 90 percent complete.

Imam Prasodjo, the director of Nurani Dunia Foundation, expressed concern that the sorry state of school buildings was not only limited to the Kejayan state elementary school, but was common in hundreds of elementary schools throughout East Java.

In the Sampang regency, 395 out of a total of 573 state elementary school building were dilapidated. In Jombang regency, 82 of 866 school buildings were also in a sorry state.

"There are probably thousands of school buildings throughout the nation that are dangerous and unfit for use. We realize that the government is short of funds, so the public has to stand up and participate to improve current situation," said Imam, who is also a lecturer at the University of Indonesia.

He said that since 2001 his foundation had helped renovate and construct 21 school buildings in Aceh, Ambon, West Java, East Java and North Maluku. Each building renovation or construction costs between Rp 100 and Rp 700 million.

"We just channel donations from big companies who have a commitment to education, such as PT Nestle and PT Bank Mandiri," said Imam.