Students' ears bent out of shape at school

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Many students in Jakarta cannot fully absorb their lessons because their schools fail to provide an atmosphere that is conducive to studying. Some of them are located adjacent to a noisy market, a shopping mall, a putrid dump site or a railway track.

State High School 37 in Kebon Baru, South Jakarta, is among the schools situated near a railway track.

"A train passes every 20 minutes. The noise and tremors caused by the passing trains often distract students," Andhika, a student at the school told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

Andhika complained that a teacher could not be heard above the noise of a passing train, causing students to miss the point.

"First and second year students whose classrooms are only meters from the railway track are perhaps the ones who suffer the most. It is less annoying for third year students, but maybe that's only because we've got used to it," Andhika said jokingly.

However, the school principal, Ramna Chaniago, claimed that neither teachers nor students had complained about the noise.

Ramna also boasted that her students did well academically.

Conditions are even worse at other schools. In addition to the noise, the hustle and bustle of nearby shopping centers coupled with heavy traffic also contribute to an inconducive atmosphere.

Like in the compound of private school Merdeka and state secondary school 14, which are located in the same building in Jatinegara, East Jakarta. They are situated right beside the Jatinegara Plaza shopping center and a bird market.

Shabby and messy plastic stalls belonging to VCD street vendors spill over right onto the sidewalk in front of the school, almost totally blocking its two-meter-wide gate. Loud music played on the vendors' VCD players coupled with honking horns makes it a perfect marketplace, but not ideal for studying.

"Previously, the sidewalk in front of the schools was clear of street vendors. But, since 1997 when the economic crisis hit the country, vendors began to use the space," Eep, an administration staffer of secondary school 14 complained.

Eep revealed that the school management had asked the city administration repeatedly to move the school to a place more favorable for studying, but there had been no response.

"We have complained repeatedly to the public order officers here but to no avail. And the vendors refuse to leave," said Eep.

Nurjanah, whose daughter studies at the school, also expressed concern over the conditions around the school.

"I'm more concerned about safety. The crowded situation and bad traffic is an unsafe environment for my little daughter. That's why I have to pick her up after school every day," Nurjanah grumbled.

Nurjanah, who lives in Kebon Pala, East Jakarta, chose the school for her daughter because her home is relatively close to the school.

Meanwhile, for students at the state elementary school in Pisangan Baru 05 in East Jakarta, it is a big dump site right in front of the school building that bothers them.

According to the school caretaker, Sugiyo, who has stayed at the school since the 1960s, the yard in front of the school used to be a park.

"But in 1985, the city administration transformed the park into a dump," Sugiyo said.

"The bad smell is really annoying, especially in the rainy season. I even have to pinch my nostrils together during class," sighed Riyan, a fifth year student who resides in Jatinegara, East Jakarta.