Riau schools need fixing

PEKANBARU, Riau: Over half of the 6,022 elementary school buildings in Riau are in need of repair.

Head of the local education and culture office, Soemardi, said Thursday that at least Rp 336.1 million was needed to repair 3,481 elementary school buildings in the province.

However, as reported by Antara, the annual provincial budget allows only Rp 17 million to be allocated for repairs.

According to Soemardi, the number of school age children who do not attend school has risen in Riau to 13,053, or 2 percent of 600,211 school-age children in the province.

He said Riau needs 55 new school buildings to accommodate all children not currently attending school.