Students traumatized by floods

Students traumatized by floods

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Nearly a month after floods befell the capital, a pile of
damaged books, cupboards, chairs, and desks still lies wet in
front of state elementary school SD 07 in Petamburan, Central
Jakarta.

The sun's rays have been prevented from filtering through to
Jakarta by an almost continuous dark sky as the school equipment
rots and causes a foul smell which disturbs students studying in
their classrooms.

"Many students are still haunted by the floods. They are
worried whenever the sky is cloudy," said Piator Hutapea, the
school principal.

Hutapea said the flooding caused suffering among many of his
students, whose homes had been destroyed or ruined by the
devastating floods.

On grounds of psychological trauma, the school management
delayed by a week the elementary school test, which was scheduled
to begin last Monday. "We need more time to help return the
students to normal," he said.

Hutapea said four other elementary schools in the process of
rebuilding were temporarily using SD 07, situated just meters
from a flood canal. Students now totaled 940.

Although most parts of the school building had been damaged,
Hutapea said they were yet to receive a single cent from the city
administration to help repair the damage.

He admitted that he did not know that there were funds
allocated to help all damaged state schools rebuild.

The city administration said earlier that it had allocated Rp
24.5 billion for state elementary schools alone.

According to data from the city administration, a total of 802
schools in the capital were damaged.

However, it is widely suspected that the number had been
inflated so emergency repair funds could later be corrupted.

Abu Tholib, 7, and Taufik, 7, were among SD 07's more
fortunate students as they had received new uniforms and books
from an individual donor.

"I have received two sets of uniforms and a package of books,"
Abu said. All his clothing and books were swept away by the
floods.

Meanwhile, Nus Anakotta, an employee at SD 05 Bidara Cina, in
East Jakarta said that it had not received any assistance, either
from the city administration or from donors.

"We have yet to receive any donations from them to repair the
damaged school's equipment," Nus said.

Most of students at the SD 05 Bidara Cina, attended class
wearing only sandals as their shoes were swept away in the
floods.

"Of the total 400 students here, 379 are flood victims. The
students are in dire need of books, bags, uniforms and shoes at
present," Nus said.

Drenched books were seen piled at the school. Some rotting and
smelly cupboards are yet to be removed from inside the
classrooms.

The school's roof remained in disrepair after it was damaged
by homeless residents seeking refuge from the floods. The school
itself was inundated by waters two-meters deep, Nus said.