Schools told to resume classes

Schools told to resume classes

AMBON, Maluku: The provincial administration has ordered
principals of schools in East and West Taliabu districts to
resume classes even though their buildings were destroyed in last
month's earthquake that shook the area.

Soulissa, the head of the Education and Culture Office, said
classes should resume, in whatever form, pending the arrival of
further assistance, Antara reported.

The quake destroyed at least nine elementary school buildings
in West Taliabu and 18 in East Taliabu.

Governor Saleh Latuconsina ordered the district chiefs to
report which school buildings should receive priority for
restoration. "We can't build `luxury' buildings at this moment,
but hopefully we can use some of the unallocated funds from the
1998/98 budget," Saleh was quoted as saying.

He added that the administration had also sent school books to
the affected districts.

The quake, measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale, killed at least
27 people and left untold damage in the two districts. (01)