Typhoon hits school in Bogor

BOGOR (JP): An elementary school in Kalong village of Leuwiliang subdistrict collapsed after a storm struck here last week, forcing some 320 pupils to take turns learning at school.

"The school building, built in 1974, was old and fragile. That's why the walls and roofs collapsed easily from the effects of the strong wind," Nurhayati, the principal of Kalong elementary school, said on Saturday.

Although officials visited the school's compound, she said "they said that the ministry (of education and culture) does not have the funds to renovate the building."

Three classes and an office in the building were badly damaged and all the important data and records within them were ruined during the heavy rain.

About 320 students took turns joining morning or afternoon classes as there was not enough space available.

"The administration is scheduled to renovate the school next year," Helmi Gustian, the Bogor administration spokesman, said.

"The Bogor administration has an allocation of the restoration fund, so we can probably fix the school soon," he said. (21/edt)