Returning to school, despite SARS

Sari P. Setiogi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Amid heightened concern about Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), parents returned their children to school on the first day of the new semester at several international schools in Jakarta.

"I'm worried about the SARS threat; moreover, no clear information has been provided by the government," said an Australian woman whose son goes to the Australian International School in Pejaten, South Jakarta.

She said she had to remind her son not to share his personal belongings with others.

"I hope he remembers the advice and follows it," she said, but shrugged her shoulders as she was uncertain whether her son would do so carefully enough. "You know what small children are like: Sometimes they get too excited when hanging around with their friends and forget everything."

Head of the Australian International School Penny Robertson told The Jakarta Post on Monday that on the first day of school, all 400 of its students returned and the school day went as usual. Students started their vacation at the end of term one on March 29.

"We have continuously encouraged parents," said Robertson, "And we have also reminded students to wash their hands more frequently."

Australian International School students, from kindergarten to Year 12 level, are of 30 different nationalities, and 20 percent of them are Indonesians.

Another international school, the British International School, in Bintaro, Tangerang, also started a new semester on Monday after a two-week break, a regular annual holiday.

Principal Peter Hoggins also said that as a precautionary measure, the school would screen students. "Those showing cough or flu symptoms will be sent to our medical officers and later asked to stay at home until they are feeling well."

He said that so far two students had been asked to stay at home because of influenza symptoms.

Students returning from trips to Hong Kong and China are also being asked to bring a doctor's letter guaranteeing that they are healthy, he said.

"Parents are very concerned at the SARS issue. We have explained it to them and so far they are very supportive," he said.

The British International School has 900 students of 47 nationalities.

A British citizen suspected of contracting SARS has been receiving treatment at the Sulianti Suroso Infectious Diseases Hospital, North Jakarta, since April 9.

Meanwhile, the Singapore International School, Lebak Bulus, South Jakarta, which was closed from March 24 to April 7 following advice given by the Singapore Board of Education, was operating as normal.

A mother said she still felt uneasy about sending her daughter to school because it had fewer precautions, but she did not know what else to do.

The head could not be reached for comment.

Recent research carried out by Hong Kong-based Political and Economic Risk Consultancy (PERC), as reported by The Straits Times on Monday, showed that respondents had the least confidence in Indonesia.

On a scale of zero to 10, with zero the best and 10 the worst, Indonesia was rated 9.14.

The research involved 1,072 expatriate business executives, working in 12 Asian countries, grading their confidence in the ability of hospitals in their host country to deal with major illnesses.