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)