Teacher foresees roof collapse, sends school children home

Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

The collapse of the roof of SD V elementary school in Poris Gaga, Batu Ceper district, Tangerang, was not unexpected.

Fortunately, no student was hurt in Tuesday's incident -- which took place at around 11 a.m. when classes should have been in session -- thanks to Rojali, a sixth-grade teacher who listened to his intuition.

He said he felt something bad would happen as soon as he arrived at school that day at 7 a.m. Rojali had often told the headmaster and his colleagues that he had heard cracking sounds from the roof while teaching.

After the first recess at 10:30 a.m., Rojali told his students not to return to the classroom, and other classrooms had also been evacuated as he had urged.

About 35 minutes later, the roof began to collapse.

"I can't imagine if any of my students got injured or were killed in the accident," Rojali, who has been teaching at the school for 10 years, told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

The damages to his classroom were the worst.

Headmaster Sri Sumarti said the school management had asked the municipal administration to restore the 24-year-old building. "We were told renovations would only start next year."

Tangerang secretary Harry Mulya Zain told the Post the administration would now prioritize the construction of a new building for SD V and had ordered the Spatial Development and Management Agency to commence the project soon.

Nasufa, 37, who lives near the school, said she always warned her 11-year-old daughter to stay alert while in the classroom.

"I never forgot to tell her to run out immediately if she heard cracking sounds from the roof and not be bothered about bringing along her bag, books and other things," she said.