Teachers abandon students, school

MANOKWARI, Irian Jaya: Dozens of primary school students in Indah village, Menyambouw district, have not gone to school for the past three weeks because there has not been anybody to teach them.

Antara quoted an official as saying that the teachers went to town and have not returned. It did not say how many teachers were posted there, but added that the school building has become dilapidated now due to a lack of maintenance.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the teachers left because the residents did not want them since they came from areas outside of Manokwari.

"The residents wanted to have local teachers because social and cultural differences, as well as the remoteness of the area, could be hard on the teachers," the official said. (swe)