Students' ears bent out of shape at school

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.