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.