Schools close due to lack of pupils

Schools close due to lack of pupils

SEMARANG, Central Java: At least 104 public and private
elementary schools in Central Java closed down during the
1997/1998 school year due to a lack of new students.

The schools were forced to stop operating after the number of
new enrollments declined over the years, the head of the
provincial education office, Agus Sutadi, said here yesterday.

Agus attributed the drop-off in enrollments to the success of
the province's family planning program.

He pointed out that schools in established neighborhoods
tended to experience a shortage of new students compared to
schools in new residential areas where younger families lived.

More elementary schools are expected to close this coming
academic year, he said, adding that the number could only be
determined after he received more detailed reports from district
officials.