W. Sumatra fears more dropouts

PADANG, West Sumatra: The West Sumatra administration has handed out 20,994 scholarships to needy students to date, but reports that at least 49,234 more children need help to stay in school.

The head of the province's education and culture office, Basir AS, told a gathering held by the Migrants' Social Movement (GSOR) here that thousands of students may have to discontinue their education because of the crisis.

Migrants originating from West Sumatra were requested to help the students, said Syahrul Efendi, the head of GSOR, as quoted by Antara on Friday.

The organization collected Rp 164 million at the gathering to be handed out to the brightest of the province's needy students.

Syahrul said the organization had been set up last year mainly by young West Sumatran migrants to help people in their home province get through the crisis. Migrating is a part of West Sumatran culture.

GSOR members also agreed to help school-aged orphans in 70 orphanages throughout the province. (anr)